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POISONS 


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MEMORANDA 

ON 

poiso:n's. 


WORKS  BY  THE  SAME  AUTHOR. 


Tanner  s  Practice  of  Medicine. 

Fifth  American  from  the  Sixth  London  Edition.    Greatly 
Enlarged  and  Improved. 

Price,  bound  in  cloth,  $?  00 ;  in  leather,  $7  00. 


Tanner  s  Practical  Treatise  on  The  Diseases 

of  Infancy  and    Childhood. 

Third  American  Edition,  Revised  and  Enlarged,  \>y  Alfred 
Meadows,  M.D. 

OctaTO.     Cloth,  $3  50. 


Tanner  s  Index  of  Diseases  and  their    Treat- 
ment. 

"With   upwards  of  500  Formulae  for  Medicines,   Baths, 
Mineral  Waters,  Climates  for  Invalids,  etc.,  et  c. 
Octavo.    Price,  $3  00. 


MEMORANDA 


POISONS 


BY   THE    LATE 

THOMAS  HAWKES  TANNER,  M.D.,  F.L.S. 


THIRD  AND  COMPLETELY  REVISED  EDITIOX. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
LINDSAY   &  BLAKISTON. 

1872. 


ASHMEAD,    PRIXTEK. 


EDITOR'S   PREFACE. 


The  present  edition  of  Dr.  Tanner's  ■•  Memoranda 
on  Poisons"  is  in  some  respects  almost  a  new  book. 
It  was,  as  will  be  seen  bv  the  Antlior"s  Preface  to 
the  last  Edition,  Dr.  Tanner's  object  to  furnish 
the  practitioner  with  a  useful  guide  to  his  duties 
in  cases  of  poisoning.  Experience  has,  however, 
shown  that  the  book  is  more  useful  to  the  student 
than  to  the  practitioner ;  and.  with  a  view  to  ren- 
der it  still  more  valuable  to  the  former,  it  has  in 
great  measure  been  remodelled.  Whilst,  there- 
fore, due  attention  has  been  paid  to  what  might 
be  called  the  clinical  aspects  of  poisoning,  its 
chemical  bearings  have  been  more  closely  attend- 
ed to  ;  and  the  more  important  and  reliable  tests 
have  in  each  instance  been  given,  as  have  also 
the  more  important  processes  for  separating 
l)oisons  from  organic  admixture.  Sick  of  the  old 
and  clumsy  classification  of  poisons  into  Irritants, 
Narcotics,  and  Narcotico-Irritants.  the  editor  has 
endeavored  to  form  some  more  rational  groups  of 
toxic  agents.  These  groups  are,  it  is  true,  quite 
l)rovisional  :    and  they  are   somewhat    simihir    to 


VI  EDITORS    PREFACE. 

those  adopted  bv  Dr.  Guv  in  his  admirable  text- 
book on  Forensic  Medicine.  Ther  have,  however, 
been  worked  out  independently,  whether  thej 
be  worth  anything  or  no.  Briefly  they  are 
these  : — 

Corrosives. — Simple  Irritants,  Mineral,  Vege- 
table, and  Animal. — Irritant  Gases. — Specific  Irri- 
tants. Mineral,  Vegetable,  and  Animal. — Neuro- 
tics :  subdivided  into  Narcotics.  Ana?sthetics, 
Inebriants,  Delirants,  Convulsives,  Hyposthenis- 
ants.  Depressants,  Asphyxiants, — and  Abortives. 

Such  a  grouping  is  far  from  perfect ;  but  it 
would  be  impossible  to  have  anything  worse  than 
that  still  in  general  use.  I^is  with  the  hope  of 
rendering  this  little  volume  more  generally  useful 
these  changes  have  been  made  :  a  reason  at  all 
times  all-powerful  with  its  lamented  Author. 

A.  S. 


AUTHOR'S   PREFACE 

TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION. 


These  Memoranda  are  intended  to  refresh  the 
memory  of  the  practitioner  on  a  subject  which  is 
not  brought  under  his  notice  so  frequently  as 
many  other  departments  of  medicine.  They  are 
especially  adapted  to  show  at  a  glance  the  treat- 
ment to  be  adopted  in  each  particular  instance 
of  poisoning  to  which  a  medical  man  is  liable  to 
be  summoned. 

There  seems  reason  to  fear  that  the  crime  of 
slow  poisoning  is  more  extensively  practised  in 
the  present  day  than  is  generally  believed.  The 
study  of  the  following  pages  vrill,  it  is  hoped,  put 
the  physician  on  his  guard ;  and  prevent  his 
attributing  to  natui-al  disease  symptoms  due  to 
the  villainous  administration  of  deadly  drugs. 


Henrietta  Street,  Cavendish  S^c.are. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

PAGE 

Definition  and  Mode  of  Action  of  Poisons 13 

CHAPTER    II. 

Diagnosis  of  Poisoning — Duties  of  the  Practitioner    ...    19 

CHAPTER    III. 

Duties  of  the  Practitioner— Treatment  of  Poisoning    ...    24 

CHAPTER    IV. 
Detection  of  Poisons 28 

CHAPTER    V. 
Classification  of  Poisons 32 

CHAPTER    YI. 

The  Concentrated  Mineral  Acids 36 

CHAPTER    YII. 

The  Corrosive  Vegetable  Acids 43 


X  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

PAGE 

The  Caustic  Alkalies  aud  their  Carbonates :  Potash,  Soda, 
Ammonia 48 

CHAPTER    IX. 

Si^lts  of  the  Alkalies  and  Alkaline  Earths 52 

CHAPTER    X. 

Salts  of  the  Metals :  Zinc— Silver— Tin— Bismuth — Chrome 
— Iron 54 

CHAPTER    XI. 

Simple  Vegetable  and  Animal  Irritants 57 

CHAPTER    XII. 

Irritant  Gases 59 

CHAPTER    XIII. 
Iodine  and  Iodide  of  Potassium 61 

CHAPTER    XIY. 
Phosphorus 63 

CHAPTER    XV. 

Arsenic  and  its  Compounds 66 

CHAPTER    XVI. 

Antimonial  Compounds 78 


CONTENTS.  XI 

CHAPTER     XVII. 

PAGE 

Mcrctiry  and  its  Compounds 81 

CHAPTER    XYIII.  • 
Prepai-ations  of  Lead 85 

CHAPTER    XIX. 
Salts  of  Copper 89 

CHAPTER    XX. 

Specific  Tegetable  Irritants 92 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

Specific  Animal  Irritants. — Cantbarides 92 

CHAPTER    XXII. 

Narcotics. — Neurotics,  acting  on  the  Brain  and  producing 
Sleep :  Opium 95 

CHAPTER    XXIII. 

Ana?sthetics. — Neurotics  acting  on  the  Brain  and  producing 
Insensibility:  Chloroform — Chloral — Bichloride  of  Me- 
thylene—Ether — Amylene — Nitrous  Oxide 102 

CHAPTER  XXIY. 

Inebriants. — Neurotics  acting  on  the  Brain  and  producing 
Intoxication :  Alcohol — Nitro-Benzole — Cocculus  Indicus 
—Fungi,  &c 108 


xii  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    XXY. 

PAGE 

Deliraiits. — Neurotics  acting  on  the  Brain  and  producing 
Delirium  :  Hyoscj'amus— Belladonna — Stramonium— Da- 
tura alba— Nightshade 112 

CHAPTER  XXYI. 

Convulsires. — Neurotics  producing  Convulsions :  Nux  Vo- 
mica—Brucia— Strychnia  116 

CHAPTER    XXYII. 

Ilyposthenisants. — Neurotics  producing  Death  by  Syncope : 
Aconite — Prussic  Acid 122 

CHAPTER    XXYIII. 

Depressants. — Neurotics  producing  marked  depression  of 
the  Heart's  Action:  Digitalis — Calabar  Beans— Tobacco 
—Hemlock 129 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Asphyxiants. — Noxious  Gases,  producing  Neurotic  Symp- 
toms   134 

CHAPTER    XXX. 
Abortives. — Substances  producing  Abortion 137 


Appendix ' 139 

Index 151 


TOXICOLOGICAL  MEMORANDA, 


INTRODUCTION. 


CHAPTER  I. 

DEFINITION    AND    MODE    OF    ACTION    OF    POISONS. 

Toxicology  (to^okov  poison,  and  Xoyog  discourse,) 
is  that  branch  of  medical  science  which  treats  of 
the  nature,  properties,  and  effects  of  poisons. 

It  appears  scarcely  possible  to  give  any  defini- 
tion of  a  poison  which  will  bear  a  critical  examina- 
tion ;  insomuch  that  some  have  preferred  to  deal 
with  the  evil  effects  of  any  substance,  that  is 
poisoning^  rather  than  with  the  substance  itself,  the 
so-called  ^oi«o/i.  Most  medicines  are  poisonous  in 
improper  doses;  and  even  common  salt  (chloride 
of  sodium)  has  caused  death.*  Dr.  Guy  defines 
a  poison  to  be  any  substance  which,  when  applied 
to  the  body  externally,  or  in  any  way  introduced 
into  the  system,  without  acting  mechanically,  but 
bj  its  own  inherent  qualities,  is  capable  of  destroy- 
ing life.  A  cherrystone  may  cause  death  by  be- 
coming arrested  in  the  vermiform  appendix,  and 

*  In  the  year  1839,  a  young  lady  residing  in  the  north  of 
England  took  about  half  a  pound  of  salt  to  rid  herself  of  worms. 
Very  soon  afterwards  she  began  to  suffer  from  all  the  efifects  of 
an  irritant  poison,  with  general  paralysis  ;  and  in  spite  of  the 
use  of  the  stomach  pump  and  of  antidotes,  she  died  in  a  few 
hours.  Dr.  Christison  has  recorded  two  somewhat  similar  cases. 
2 


14  INTRODUCTION. 

thus  producing  peritonitis ;  boiling  water  may- 
cause  death  also  ;  but  neither  are  poisons  :  the  one 
acting  mechanically,  the  other  by  its  heat  merely. 

Any  substance  which  can  injure  the  health  or 
destroy  life  is  regarded  as  a  poison,  if  given  with 
the  intent  to  do  mischief.  The  words  of  the  statute 
(1  Yict.  c.  85,  sec.  2)  are — "  Whoever  shall  admin- 
ister, or  cause  to  be  taken  by  any  person,  any  poison, 
or  other  destructive  thing,  with  intent  to  commit 
murder,  shall  be  guilty  of  felony,  and  being  con- 
victed thereof  shall  suffer  death."  Sometimes 
poisons  are  administered,  not  for  the  purpose  of 
destroying  life,  but  of  causing  some  slight  injury  or 
annoyance.  An  Act  passed  in  March,  1860  (23  Vict, 
c.  8),  provides  for  the  punishment  of  a  guilty  person 
under  these  circumstances.  If  life  be  endangered, 
or  '•  grievous  bodily  harm"'  result,  the  administrator 
may  be  found  guilty  of  felony,  and  sentenced  to 
penal  servitude  for  a  term  not  exceding  ten  years. 
If  the  intent  be  only  to  "  injure,  aggrieve,  or  an- 
noy," the  crime  is  reduced  to  a  misdemeanor, 
punishable  with  an  imprisonment  for  not  more  than 
three  years. 

In  accordance  with  the  Pharmacy  Act  certain 
substances  have  been  defined  as  poisons  within  the 
meaning  of  the  Act,  so  as  to  put  some  restriction  on 
their  sale  to  the  public. 

Poisons  may  be  introduced  into  the  body  in  vari- 
ous ways  and  in  various  forms.  Thus  they  may 
be  administered  by  the  mouth  or  by  the  rectum, 
and  they  may  be  given  in  the  form  of  solids,  liquids, 
or  gases,  uncombined,  or  mixed  with  various  mat- 
ters. Some  agents  are  more  readily  absorbed  than 
others  ;  whilst  some  textures  permit  of  absorption 
taking  place  more  quickly  through  them  than  other 
tissues.  Thus,  the  most  diffusible  poisons  prove 
most   rapidly  fatal,   especially  when   introduced 


DEFINITION  AND  MODE  OF  ACTION  OF  POISONS.   15 

directly  into  the  circulation  by  a  wound  in  a  vein, 
or  when  they  are  injected  into  the  subcutaneous 
connective  tissue.  Their  action  is  also  speedy 
when  applied  either  in  a  gaseous  state  to  the  pul- 
monary air-cells,  or  as  a  fluid  to  that  of  the  stomach 
or  intestines.  The  serous  membranes,  too,  possess 
an  activity  of  absorption  almost  superior  to  that 
of  the  mucous  membranes ;  while  absorption 
through  the  skin  is  slow,  on  account  of  the  cuticle. 
Poisons  taken  into  the  stomach  when  that  viscus 
is  empty,  necessarily  act  much  more  speedily  than 
when  it  is  full.  It  is  remarkable  that  the  agents 
which  most  affect  the  nervous  system  do  not  appear 
to  act  at  all  when  applied  directly  to  the  brain  or 
trunks  of  nerves.  There  are  also  some  poisons,  as 
that  of  the  viper,  which,  although  most  deadly 
when  introduced  into  the  blood  through  a  wound, 
are  harmless  when  swallowed. 

The  effects  of  poisons  may  be  considered  as  local 
and  remote. 

The  local  effects  are  mainly  of  three  kinds,  viz., 
corrosion,  or  chemical  decomposition,  as  is  seen  in 
the  effects  of  the  strong  mineral  acids  and  alkalies  ; 
irritation  or  inflammation,  varying  from  simple  red- 
ness, in  its  mildest,  to  ulceration  and  gangrene,  in 
its  most  severe  degree,  such  as  may  result  from 
the  use  of  corrosive  sublimate  ;  and  a  local  specific 
effect,  produced  on  the  sentient  extremities  of  the 
nerves,  as  is  felt  on  the  local  application  of  prussic 
acid,  aconite,  &c. 

The  remote  effects  are  those  influencing  organs 
remote  from  the  part  to  which  the  poison  has  been 
applied.  These  may  be  either  common  or  specific  ; 
common,  such  as  the  constitutional  indications  of 
inflammatory  fever," however  produced  ;  specific,  like 
the  constitutional  effects  of  opium  over  and  above 
its  local  influences  in  relieving  pain,  &c.     Various 


16  IXTRODUCTION. 

narcotic  poisons  produce  but  little  local  change, 
though  their  remote  effects  are  very  remarkable. 
For  example,  belladonna,  in  whatever  way  it  may 
be  introduced  into  the  system,  paralyzes  the  ciliary 
nerves  and  so  causes  dilatation  of  the  pupil.  Many 
substances  have  both  a  local  and  remote  action,  as 
is  well  seen  in  the  influence  of  cantharides  upon 
the  part  to  which  they  are  applied,  and  their  re- 
mote effects  upon  the  urinary  organs. 

These  remote  effects  must  be  induced  by  one  of 
two  modes,  or,  as  some  contend,  by  both:  by 
absorption,  that  is,  by  the  passage  of  the  poisonous 
particles  into  the  blood  ;  or  by  sympathy,  that  is, 
by  an  impression  transmitted  through  the  nerves. 

In  the  present  day  every  one  allows  that  poisons 
may  become  absorbed,  and  that,  provided  they  pro- 
duce poisonous  effects  at  all,  they  are  absorbed,  in 
whatever  way  they  may  have  been  applied  to  the 
body.  But  it  is  sometimes  asked,  Is  this  absorp- 
tion necessar\-  for  their  action  ?  The  following 
evidence  may  be  briefly  noticed  as  in  some  degree 
affording  an  affirmative  answer  to  this  question. 
Magendie  divided  all  the  parts  of  one  of  the  pos- 
terior extremities  of  a  dog,  the  artery  and  vein 
being  reconnected  by  quills,  so  as  to  preclude  the 
possibility  of  the  effects  being  conveyed  by  the 
nervous  filaments  supplying  the  coats  of  the  ves- 
sels ;  on  applying  a  portion  of  upas  tieute  to  a 
wound  in  the  foot,  the  symptons  of  poisoning 
occurred,  and  death  took  place  in  ten  minutes.  If 
the  veins  leading  from  a  poisoned  part  be  tied,  the 
arterial  and  nervous  communication  being  com- 
plete, the  symptons  of  poisoning  do  not  occur. 
Mr,  Blake  introduced  some  prussic  acid  into  the 
stomach  of  a  dog,  through  an  opening  in  its  pari- 
etes,  after  he  had  ligatured  the  vessel  entering 
the  liver  (the  vena  portae,  which,  directly  or  indi- 


DEFINITION  AND  MODE  OF  ACTION  OF  POISONS.    17 

rectly,  receives  the  gastric  veins ) ;  no  effect  ensued 
until  the  removal  of  the  ligature,  within  one  min- 
ute of  which  proceeding  the  poison  began  to  act. 
And  lastly,  not  only  has  prussic  acid  been  discov- 
ered in  the  blood  of  an  animal  which  perished  in 
thirty-five  seconds,  but  in  some  experiments  made 
by  Mr.  Erichsen,  in  a  case  of  extroversion  of  the 
bladder,  prussiate  of  potass  was  found  in  the  urine 
within  one  minute  of  its  being  swallowed  on  an 
empty  stomach. 

The  chief  argument  in  favor  of  a  sympathetic  or 
direct  nerve  action,  is  the  almost  instantaneous 
manner  in  which  some  poisons  act ;  fatal  effects  oc- 
curring, it  is  said,  before  sufficient  time  has  elaps- 
ed to  allow  of  absorption.  It  has,  however,  been 
proved  that  the  round  of  the  circulation  may  be 
accomplished  much  more  speedily  than  has  been 
imagined.  Thus,  the  ferrocyanide  of  potassium 
injected  into  the  jugular  vein  of  a  horse  was  dis- 
covered throughout  the  entire  venous  system  in 
twenty-seconds  ;  and  Mr.  Blake  has  inferred  from 
his  experiments  that  a  poison  may  be  diffused 
through  the  body  in  nine  seconds.  It  may  there- 
fore be  concluded  that  in  most  instances  poisons 
act  by  being  absorbed  and  conveyed  with  the 
blood  to  the  different  organs  which  they  impair, 
or  the  nerve  centres  which  rule  the  functions  of 
these  ;  some  paralyzing  the  heart  when  they  reach 
it,  some  affecting  the  brain  or  the  spinal  cord,  some 
stopping  the  play  of  the  lungs  and  others  acting 
upon  the  different  glands.  Nevertheless,  in  view 
of  the  extreme  rapidity  with  which  death  is  brought 
about  in  a  few  instances,  the  possibility  of  a  direct 
shock  to  the  nervous  system  causing  death  must 
not  be  overlooked. 

The  action  of  a  poison  may  be  variously  modified, 
and  the  modifying  circumstances  must  be  carefully 


18  INTRODUCTION. 

taken  into  consideration  in  the  formation  of  a  prog- 
nosis and  in  suggesting  a  line  of  treatment. 

Tlie  quantifi/  or  dose  is  the  most  important  of 
these  ;  many  substances  which  are  deadly  in  large 
doses  being  exceedingly  useful  as  remedies  in  small 
quantities  ;  such  are  prussic  acid,  opium,  digitalis, 
arsenic,  &c.  Then  again,  the  mechanical  and  chemi- 
cal state  of  aggregation  are  all-important;  a  solid 
being  usually  much  less  active  than  a  fluid  or  a  gas, 
and  a  pure  substance  much  more  active  than  one 
mixed  with  insoluble  materials.  Even  more  impor- 
tant is  the  chemical  constitution  of  the  poisonous 
agent;  as  already  pointed  out.  poisonous  effects  re- 
sult from  absorption  of  the  poisoning  body  and  ab- 
sorption implies  solution;  the  more  soluble,  there- 
fore, the  compound  is,  the  more  speed}-  are  its  effects, 
whilst  compounds  insoluble  in  water  or  any  of  the 
juices  of  the  body  are  inert.  It  is  not,  however, 
enough  that  the  substance  be  insoluble  in  water ; 
it  must  be  so  also  in  the  gastric  juice,  or  it  may  give 
rise  to  characteristic  symptoms.  Thus,  calomel 
is  insoluble  in  water,  yet  it  is  a  powerful  medicine ; 
orpiment  is  insoluble  in  water,  yet  when  swallowed, 
it  may  give  rise  to  symptoms  of  arsenical  poison- 
ing, and  so  on.  As  already  pointed  out,  the  mode  in 
which  the  poison  is  introduced  into  the  body  is  of 
great  consequence  in  estimating  its  effects.  Then 
again  the  mental  and  bodily  condition  of  the  recipi- 
ent must  be  taken  into  account.  Thus,  in  excited 
maniacs  doses  of  medicines  may  be  given  without 
producing  any  effect  which  in  ordinary  individuals 
might  give  rise  to  serious  consequences.  The  bodily 
condition,  especially  as  influenced  by  habit,  is  still 
more  important.  It  may  be  broadly  stated,  that  by 
gradually  increasing  the  dose  of  a  substance  ordi- 
narily poisonous,  in  course  of  time  enormous  quan- 
tities may  be  borne  without  producing  immediate 


DIAGNOSIS   OF    POISONING.  19 

ill  effects.  This  is  especially  seen  in  the  practice  of 
opium  eating  and  smoking,  and  in  a  less  degree  in  ar- 
senic eating,  as  practised  in  Styria.  The  latter  in- 
stance is,  however,  contrary  to  the  usual  rule;  for 
whereas  with  vegetable  substances,  such  as  opium 
the  dose  requires  to  be  constantly  increased  to  keep 
up  the  effects,  with  minerals,  the  contrary  seems  to 
be  the  case,  especially  with  antimony  and  mercury, 
which  cannot  be  long  given  without  danger  to 
the  recipient. 


CHAPTER  II. 


DIAGNOSIS     OF     POISONING DUTIES      OP     THE      PRAC- 
TITIONER. 

The  chief  characteristics  of  poisoning  mentioned 
by  authors  of  repute  are,  that  the  symptoms  com- 
mence suddenly  after  taking  any  substance  or 
fluid  into  the  stomach,  the  individual  being  in  a 
state  of  health  ;  that  they  increase  steadily,  and 
are  uniform  in  their  nature  throughout  their 
course  ;  and  that  they  prove  rapidly  fatal.  There 
are  many  exceptions  to  these  rules.  Thus  if  the 
stomach  be  loaded  the  appearance  of  the  symptoms 
will  often  be  delayed  some  few  hours.  Sleep,  ac- 
cording to  Dr.  Christison,  may  retard  the  action  of 
some  agents  ;  so  that  if  a  person  fall  asleep  soon 
after  swallowing  arsenic  or  strychnia,  for  example, 
no  effect  may  ensue  for  four  or  five  hours.  In- 
toxication will  mask  the  effect  of  narcotics.  Again, 
the  individual  poisoned  may  possibly  be  suffering 
from  disease,  and  an  agent  may  be  given  which 
will  only  aggravate  existing  symptoms.     The  fact 


20  INTRODUCTION. 

must  not  be  forgetten  that  sometimes  r  poisonons 
draught  is  substituted  for  a  harmless  medicine. 
And  lastly,  after  a  poison  has  manifested  its  effects 
the  symptoms  often  remit  for  a  time. 

When  poison  is  administered  with  a  criminal  in- 
tent it  is  g-enerally  in  such  a  dose  as  to  take  im- 
mediate effect,  although  this  is  by  no  means 
necessary,  as  there  are  numerous  substances  which 
accumulate  in  the  system,  and  when  given  in  small 
and  repeated  quantities,  ultimately  prove  fatal. 
It  must  also  be  remembered  that  there  are  many 
diseases,  as  malignant  cholera,  internal  hemor- 
rhage, &c.,  which  commence  suddenly,  and  rapidly 
run  to  a  fatal  termination.  In  inflammation  of  the 
stomach  or  intestines  the  symptoms  often  set  in 
suddenly,  and  might  be  mistaken  for  poisoning; 
such  is  also  the  case  in  intestinal  obstruction,  and 
especially  in  ulceration  and  perforation  of  the 
bowels.  So  also  in  organic  diseases  of  the  heart, 
where  the  symptoms  may  have  remained  latent 
for  some  time,  death  often  occurs  suddenly  from 
syncope.  The  diagnosis  of  the  effects  of  irritant 
poisons  is  not  so  difficult  as  it  is  in  the  case  of  nar- 
cotics or  other  neurotics,  where  the  symptoms  are 
very  similar  to  those  produced  by  apoplexy,  epi- 
lepsy, tetanus,  convulsions,  or  disease  of  the 
brain. 

Generally  speaking,  a  person  may  be  supposed 
to  be  suffering  under  the  effects  of  a  poison,  if  soon 
after  taking  food  or  drink,  he  be  seized  with 
violent  pain,  vomiting,  disorder  of  the  alimentary 
canal,  and  convulsive  movements  :  or  if  he  be  at- 
tacked under  the  same  circumstances  with  vertigo, 
delirium,  or  great  drowsiness.  It  must  not  be  for- 
gotten, however,  that  poisons  may  be  introduced 
into  the  body,  not  only  by  the  mouth,  but  also  by 
means  of  suppositories  and  enemata,  or  in  females 


DIAGNOSIS    OF   POISONING.  21 

by  vaginal  injections,  or  by  inhalation,  or  by  sub- 
cutaneous injection,  or  through  the  true  skin  after 
the  removal  of  the  cuticle.  Should  death  ensue, 
the  presumption  of  unfair  play  will  of  course  be 
strengthened  by  the  discovery  of  post-mortem  ap- 
pearances similar  to  those  known  to  be  produced 
by  the  poison  from  which  the  person  apparently 
suffered. 

The  post-mortem  appearances,  however,  except 
in  a  few  instances,  are  not  very  characteristic  ; 
nevertheless  they  may  be  of  great  negative  value  in 
proving  that  a  certain  poison  has  not  been  admin- 
istered, or  that  the  patient  died  from  the  effects  of 
disease.  Two  symptoms,  excessive  lividity  of  the 
body  and  early  putrefaction,  formerly  supposed  to 
indicate  death  by  poison,  are  now  known  to  fre- 
quently follow  other  modes  of  death.  It  may 
nevertheless  be  remarked,  that  the  appearances 
after  death  which  may  be  produced  by  poisons  are, 
in  one  great  class,  the  signs  of  inflammation  of  the 
alimentary  canal  ;  in  another,  the  signs  of  conges- 
tion of  the  nervous  sysem  ;  and  in  a  third,  a  com- 
bination of  the  two. 

The  detection  of  poison  in  some  of  the  food 
which  has  been  left  untaken  or  in  the  matters  vom- 
ited would  seem  to  be  conclusive  evidence  of  the 
administration  of  poison  ;  but  it  is  to  be  recollect- 
ed that  designing  persons  have  mixed  noxious 
materials  with  food  or  rejected  matters,  in  order  to 
feign  poisoning,  or  to  cast  unjust  imputations  upon 
others. 

When  called  to  a  case  of  supposed  poisoning 
during  life  the  practitioner's  duty  is  two-fold.  His 
first  aim  must  of  course  be  to  preserve  life  (see 
next  chapter)  ;  his  second,  to  forward  the  interests 
of  justice.  But  if  he  reaches  the  spot  too  late  to 
save  life  his  duties  are  undivided,  for  he  has  but 


22  INTRODUCTION. 

to  see  that  justice  is  done,  and  in  order  that  there 
be  no  failure  it  is  important  that  all  his  obserrations 
be  committed  as  speedily  as  possible  to  writing. 
He  should  inquire  the  time  at  which  any  substance 
was  last  taken,  the  nature  of  the  symptoms,  the 
hour  at  which  they  commenced,  and  the  precise 
time  at  which  death  occurred.  He  must  take  pos- 
session of  :\ny  food,  medicine,  vomited  matters, 
urine,  or  fieces  which  may  be  in  the  room  ;  and  if 
possible  he  is  to  seal  them  up,  in  new  and  clean 
vessels,  duly  labelled,  for  examination.  Then  the 
position  and  temperature  of  the  body  are  to  be 
observed,  the  appearance  of  the  countenance,  the 
presence  orabsence  of  rigor  mortis,  with  the  nature 
and  warmth  of  the  apartment,  the  situation  of  any 
marks  of  violence,  and  the  condition  of  the  inside 
of  the  mouth  and  gullet.  In  addition  to  the  ordi- 
nary rules  to  be  observed  in  conducting  post-mor- 
tem examinations  in  cases  of  suspected  poisoning, 
something  more  must  be  done  with  a  view  to  pre- 
serving portions  of  the  body  for  subsequent  ex- 
amination. The  alimentary  canal  is  the  most  im- 
portant organ  to  be  thus  secured,  and  it  should 
be  removed  in  separate  portions.  A  double  ligature 
should  be  passed  round  the  oesophagus  in  the  chest, 
and  the  duodenum  a  few  inches  below  the  pylorus 
should  be  secured  in  like  manner  ;  by  cuttingacross 
the  gullet  and  gut  between  these  ligatures,  the 
stomach  may  be  removed  without  any  danger  of 
spilling  its  contents.  It  is  best  to  open  the  stomach 
after  it  has  been  introduced  into  the  receptacle 
prepared  for  it,  so  that  its  pathological  condition 
may  be  noted  as  early  as  possible.  Another  lig- 
ature should  be  tied  low  down  in  the  rectum, 
and  the  intestines  removed  and  introduced  into  a 
separate  vessel  prepared  for  them  and  then  ex- 
amined like  the  stomach.     Sometimes  it  may  be 


DIAGNOSIS   OF   POISONING.  23 

necessary  to  remove  the  gullet  in  like  fashion. 
As  much  blood  as  possible  should  be  saved  for  the 
chemist,  and  a  portion  of  the  liver,  if  not  the  whole 
organ,  should  also  be  secured.  When  everything 
has  been  tied  up,  the  jars  should  be  sealed,  num- 
bered, labelled,  and  initialled,  to  prevent  subse- 
quent confusion  and  to  facilitate  identification. 
In  vromen  the  vagina,  uterus  and  ovaries  must  be  in- 
spected, the  brain,  spinal  cord  and  thoracic  viscera 
ought  likewise  to  be  examined,  and  portions  of 
the  spleen,  kidneys,  and  muscles  should  be  reserved 
for  analysis.  No  antiseptic  or  preservative  fluid  is 
to  be  used.  \Yhen  possible  it  will  be  best  to  make 
the  autopsy  within  twenty-four  hours  after  death  ; 
taking  care  to  make  the  examination  patiently, 
thoroughly,  and  with  a  mind  free  from  any  bias. 
Poison  may  be  found  in  a  body,  and  yet  a  question 
may  arise  as  to  its  having  been  the  cause  of  death. 
Hence  in  these  investigations  every  organ  of  the 
body  is  to  be  examined,  in  order  to  learn  whether 
any  disease  has  existed  sufficient  to  account  for 
the  fatal  result. 

Any  suspicious  conduct  on  the  part  of  those 
surrounding  the  poisoned  individual  should  be 
carefully  noted.  Acts  of  this  kind  arrange  them- 
selves in  three  heads,  as  occurring  before,  or  during 
the  fatal  illness,  or  after  death.  With  the  first 
category  the  practitioner  has  ordinarily  nothing 
to  do,  but  his  attention  to  those  coming  under  the 
second  and  third  is  often  of  essential  service  to 
the  ends  of  justice.  The  kind  of  acts  will  suggest 
themselves  to  every  one,  and  need  not  be  further 
referred  to  here. 


24  INTRODUCTION'. 


CHAPTER  III. 

DUTIES    OF    THE     PRACTITIONER — TREATMENT    OP 
POISONING, 

When  the  practitioner  is  called  in  to  a  case  of 
poisoning  while  yet  there  is  life,  he  must  set  him- 
self to  preserve  it  in  whatever  way  he  best  can :  in 
this  of  course  he  must  be  guided  by  circumstances, 
but  several  broad  rules  may  be  laid  down.  All 
have  one  end.  but  the  order  may  be  varied.  That 
is  best  which  is  readiest,  the  grand  rule  being  to 
lose  no  time.  Most  of  the  modes  of  treatment 
come  under  one  or  other  of  the  three  following 
heads: — 1.  Get  rid  of  the  poison.  2.  Stop  its 
ACTION.     3.  Remedy  the  mischief  it  has  done. 

1.  To  get  rid  of  the  poison  is  ordinarily  the  first 
thing  to  be  done,  but  not  always.  To  do  so  when 
the  poison  has  been  swallowed  two  means  may  be 
employed:   vomiting  or  the  stomach-pump. 

The  latter  is  one  of  the  most  certain  means  we 
possess  of  emptying  the  stomach  ;  and  by  means 
of  it  this  viscus  may  be  Avashed  out,  and  the  an- 
tidote, if  any  be  known,  administered.  In  speak- 
ing hereafter,  however,  of  the  treatment  to  be 
adopted  in  each  particular  instance  it  will  be  seen 
that  there  are  some  cases,  as  poisoning  by  corro- 
sives, in  which  this  instrument  cannot  be  used  ; 
as  it  might  not  only  cause  laceration  of  the  tissues, 
but  even  perforation  of  the  oesophagus  or  stomach. 
It  is  hardly  necessary  to  mention  that  in  all  cases 
a  certain  tact  is  required  in  its  employment ;  the 
tube  having,  on  more  than  one  occasion,  been 
introduced  into  the  trachea,  and  the  lungs  injected 
with  water,  &c.  It  is  a  good  rule  also  to  with- 
draw less  fluid  than  is  pumped  into  the  stomach. 


TREATMENT  OF    POISONING.  25 

Supposing,  however,  that  this  instrument  is  not 
at  hand,  or  that  it  is  an  improper  occasion  for  its 
employment,  recourse  must  be  had  to  vomiting, 
natural  or  artificial.  Vomiting  is,  in  manj  in- 
stances, one  of  the  first  and  most  important  signs 
of  poisoning,  especially  by  irritant  substances. 
When  such  is  the  case,  it  is  only  necessary  to  fos- 
ter the  tendency  by  copious  draughts  of  lukewarm 
water ;  but  if  there  be  no  vomiting  and  the 
stomach  pump  be  not  at  hand  an  emetic  must  be 
given.  Of  these  remedies  perhaps  there  is  not  one 
which  can  be  generally  used  with  so  much  advan- 
tage as  the  sulphate  of  zinc  in  scruple  doses ;  for  not 
only  is  it  more  rapid  in  its  action,  but  its  effects 
are  less  depressing  than  those  of  any  others. 
This  last  recommendation  will  appear  the  more 
desirable  when  we  remember  that  the  absorption 
of  poisons  is  promoted  by  all  lowering  measures; 
and  consequently,  bleeding,  the  exhibition  of  tar- 
tarised  antimony,  and  the  administration  of  drastic 
purgatives,  ought  to  be  avoided.  In  poisoning  by 
opium  and  other  narcotics,  the  sulphate  of  copper 
in  eight  or  ten  grain  doses  will  often  excite  the 
stomach  to  act  when  other  emetics  have  failed. 
Ipecacuan  wine  (six  or  eight  drachms)  is  a  useful 
agent  in  many  cases  ;  or  if  a  warm  stimulating 
draught  be  needed  a  scruple  of  powdered  ipecacu- 
anha, with  the  same  quantity  of  the  sesquicar- 
bonate  of  ammonia,  may  be  administered  in  a 
wineglassful  of  water.  In  the  absence  of  these, 
mustard  proves  an  excellent  substitute  ;  a  tea- 
spoonful  or  two  being  given  in  warm  water,  and 
frequently  repeated.  Even  common  salt  may  be 
used  with  good  effect.  Vomiting  may  also  be  ex- 
cited by  tickling  the  fauces,  as  well  as  by  the  free 
administration  of  warm  water  or  of  hot  greasy 
water. 


26  INTRODUCTION'. 

When  the  poison  has  been  appliedlocally.  to  prevent 
its  absorption,  a  ligature  must  be  applied  between 
the  trunk  and  the  wounded  part,  as  near  the  latter 
as  possible  ;  while  the  deleterious  substance  is  to 
be  removed  by  free  incisions  and  plentiful  wash- 
ings. Sucking  bv  the  mouth  or  by  cupping- 
glasses  may  also  be  employed. 

2.  To  stop  the  action  of  the  poison  if  it  cannot  be 
readily  and  immediately  removed. — The  means  where- 
by this  is  effected  is  ordinarily  the  administration 
of  an  antidote.  As  no  universal  antidote  is  known, 
the  treatment  will  of  course  vary  with  the  sub- 
stance taken.  This  will  be  fully  explained  when 
speaking  of  each  particular  poison. 

An  antidote,  according  to  Orfila,  should  possess 
the  following  properties: — It  should  be  capable  of 
being  taken  in  a  large  dose  without  danger ;  it 
should  act  upon  the  poison,  whether  liquid  or  solid, 
at  a  temperature  equal  to  or  below  that  of  the 
body  ;  its  action  should  be  quick  ;  it  should  be  ca- 
pable of  combining  with  the  poison,  though  shielded 
by  the  gastric  juice,  mucus,  bile,  or  other  sub- 
stances contained  in  the  stomach  :  and  lastly,  it 
should  deprive  the  poison  of  its  deleterious  prop- 
erties. 

Antidotes  mostly  operate  by  forming  harmless 
chemical  combinations,  or  by  producing  insoluble 
compounds,  and  thus  preventing  or  delaying  ab- 
sorption. In  most  cases  they  have  no  effect  upon 
the  constitution  ;  but  some  may  be  looked  upon  as 
a  kind  of  counter-poison.  Thus,  the  antagonistic 
action  of  opium  and  belladonna  seems  fairly  made 
out,  and  we  might  perhaps  include  under  this 
head  chloroform,  as  in  some  degree,  an  antidote 
to  strychnia. 

Dr.  Garrod  has  described  a  series  of  experiments 
in  which  he  employed  purified  animal  charcoal  as 


TREATMENT    OF    POISOXING.  27 

an  antidote.  Dogs,  rabbits,  and  guinea-pigs  were 
the  animals  experimented  on  ;  while  the  poisons 
consisted  of  large  doses  of  opium,  belladonna, 
aconite,  nux  Yomica,  arsenic,  and  other  drugs. 
They  were  given  without  mischief  when  sufficient 
animal  charcoal  was  administered  simultaneously, 
or,  in  some  instances,  before  the  peculiar  effects  of 
the  destructive  drug  were  developed.  This  sub- 
stance seems  to  act  in  a  great  measure  mechani- 
cally, but  it  has  also  a  power  of  absorbing  alkaloids 
which  may  render  it  useful.  Such  substances  as 
magnesia  and  gruel  are  sometimes  given  witti  the 
view  of  protecting  the  walls  of  the  stomach,  with 
doubtful  benefit. 

3.  To  remedy  the  mischief  done,  and  obviate  the  ten- 
dency to  death. — Unfortunately,  in  a  great  number 
of  instances,  too  long  an  interval  has  elapsed  be- 
tween the  exhibition  of  the  poison  and  the  time 
when  the  first-mentioned  indications  can  be  fully 
carried  into  effect ;  for,  as  before  implied,  if 
absorption  has  taken  place,  direct  antidotes  will 
be  of  little  avail. 

Our  object  must  then  be  to  palliate  the  symptoms 
as  they  arise,  as  well  as  to  neutralize  the  effects  of 
the  poison  on  the  constitution,  by  remedies  of  an 
opposite  character.  Thus  in  poisoning  by  de- 
pressing agents  and  narcotics,  or  such  as  destroy 
the  nervous  force,  all  lowering  measures  must  be 
avoided,  and  agents  used  which  will  exert  a  con- 
trary eflTect,  as  stimulants,  cold  effusion,  galvanism 
&c.  The  shock  to  the  nervous  system  must  also 
be  taken  account,  and  appropriate  remedies  em- 
ployed to  aid  it  in  rallying. 

Thus  direct  injection  of  liquid  ammonia  into  the 
veins  has  been  found  successful  in  the  treatment 
of  snake  bite  in  Australia,  by  Professor  Halford 
and  others. 


28  INTRODUCTION. 

Claude  Bernard  has  shown  the  importance  of 
particularly  attending  to  the  way  in  which  the  poi- 
son destroys  life.  For  example,  curare  paralyzes  the 
motor  nerves,  puts  a  stop  to  all  motion,  suspends 
respiration,  and  so  brings  on  suftbcation  ;  yet  by 
keeping  up  artificial  respiration  for  a  sufficient 
length  of  time,  life  may  be  preserved  till  the  poison 
is  eliminated  and  the  danger  over.  Strychnia  at- 
tacks the  sensitive  portion  of  the  nervous  system; 
but  if  the  external  excitement,  which  perpetually 
provokes  reflex  action  and  thereby  brings  on  fatal 
convtilsions.  be  guarded  against,  recovery  may 
ensue.  A  frog,  poisoned  by  strychnia,  rapidly 
dies  if  frequently  excited  ;  whereas  left  perfectly 
quiet  under  a  bell-glass,  it  will,  c^eteris  paribus, 
recover. 

Lastly,  we  must  endeavor  to  promote  the  elimina- 
tion of  the  poison  from  the  body,  by  exciting  the 
excreting  functions  ;  for  which  purpose,  in  poison- 
ing by  arsenic,  after  the  stomach  has  been  well 
emptied,  Orfila  has  proposed  the  employment  of 
diuretics,  because  it  has  been  found  that  this 
poison,  like  most  others,  is  carried  off  in  large 
quantities  by  the  urine. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

DETECTION    OF    POISONS. 


The  detection  of  a  poison  is,  in  many  instances, 
no  easy  matter  ;  it  should  not  therefore  be  rashly 
undertaken,  except  by  one  well  skilled  in  the 
minutice  of  the  processes  to  be  adopted  ;  but  on 
the  other  hand,  there  are  so  many  points  of  prac- 


DETECTION   OF    POISONS.  29 

tical  importance  which  may  be  noted  by  the 
practitioner  in  charge,  that  his  attention  should 
be  specially  directed  to  these.  The  exact  deter- 
mination of  the  cause  of  death  will  depend  partly 
on  the  symptoms  noted  during  life  and  on  the 
appearances  found  after  death.  These  come  with- 
in the  province  of  the  ordinary  practitioner  ;  on 
the  other  hand,  the  special  physical,  chemical  and 
physiological  portion  of  the  inquiry  should  be  re- 
ferred to  the  expert.  In  a  book  of  this  scope  it  is 
impossible  to  give  full  details  with  regard  to  these 
last,  but  a  brief  sketch  nay  be  useful. 

The  physical  examination,  say  of  the  contents 
of  the  stomach  and  intestines,  should  commence 
with  noting  the  smell,  color,  and  general  appear- 
ance of  the  matters  submitted  for  examination. 
The  odor,  for  instance,  maybe  useful  in  indicating 
the  presence  of  prussic  acid,  of  alcohol,  of  opium, 
or  of  phosphorus.  The  color  may  indicate  the 
presence  of  salts  of  copper,  of  fragments  ofcantha- 
rides,  &c.  The  general  appearance  may  give  some 
clue  to  the  mode  of  introducing  the  poison,  the 
kind  of  food  or  drink  used  to  conceal  it,  &c.  Seeds 
of  poisonous  plants  may  be  found :  this  is  especially 
the  case  in  India,  where  the  seeds  of  datura  are 
frequently  used  for  criminal  purposes  ;  or  the  poi- 
sonous substance  may  have  been  administered  in 
such  quantity  that  a  portion  of  it  may  at  once  be 
secured  for  analysis.  This  not  unfrequently  hap- 
pens in  poisoning  by  arsenic.  It  is  not  enough  to 
employ  the  naked  eye  in  examining  these  suspected 
matters  5  a  hand  lens  of  some  power  should  be 
used  ]  in  this  way  characteristic  crystalline  forms, 
botanical  peculiarities,  and  such  like,  may  be 
made  out. 

Still  these  are  merely  introductory  to  the  most 
important  part  of  the  research,  which  ought  to  be 
3 


30  INTRODUCTIOJT. 

undertaken  systematically,  especially  if  the  qnan- 
tity  of  material  to  be  operated  on  is  small.  Most 
frequently  the  matters  to  be  examined  are  mixed, 
some  soluble,  some  insoluble  ;  but  there  may  also 
be  submitted  for  analysis  portions  of  the  pure 
substance.  The  object  of  the  analyst  is  to  obtain 
the  substances  which  he  has  to  examine  chemically 
in  as  pure  a  condition  as  possible,  so  that  there 
may  be  no  doubt  about  the  results  of  his  testing ; 
also,  of  course,  to  separate  active  substances  from 
those  that  are  inert,  all  being  mixed  together  in 
the  stomach  and  alimentar\-  canal.  Again,  in 
dealing  with  such  fluids  as  the  blood,  or  the  tis- 
sues of  the  body,  their  natural  constituents  must 
be  got  rid  of  before  the  foreign  and  poisonous 
body  can  be  reached.  There  is  this  difficulty  fur- 
ther to  contend  with  :  that  some  of  the  most  poison- 
ous of  substances  are  of  unstable  composition  and 
readily  altered  by  chemical  reagents  ;  to  this  group 
belong  many  vegetable  and  most  animal  poisons. 
These,  therefore,  must  be  treated  diflferently  from 
the  more  stable  inorganic  compounds.  "With  an 
inorganic  poison  we  may  destroy  all  organic 
materials  mixed  with  it,  trusting  to  find  ii,  still  re- 
cognizable after  the  process ;  not  so  with  an  organic 
substance  :  that  must  be  separated  by  other  than 
destructive  means. 

When  the  mixture  submitted  for  examination 
consists  of  bodies  perfectly  soluble  and  perfectly 
insoluble,  simple  filtration  may  sufiice  to  secure 
their  separation  :  but  this  is  rarely  the  case,  some 
colloidal  material  being  ordinarily  mixed  with  the 
crystalloid,  and  the  plan  of  separating  them  by 
diali/sis,  as  proposed  by  Graham,  not  being  alto- 
gether successful.  When  the  substances  looked 
for  are  volatile,  distillation  may  be  employed  to  se- 
cure them  in  a  state  of  purity ;  in  this  way  prussic 


DETECTION   OF    POISONS.  31 

acid  is  separated  :  but  in  the  case  of  the  poisonous 
alkaloids  other  means  must  be  adopted. 

I.  In  the  separation  of  such  an  alkaloid  as 
strychnia,  for  example,  the  suspected  material  is 
first  of  all  acidulated  by  one  of  the  weaker  min- 
eral or  stronger  vegetable  acids  (hydrochloric 
acid  is  best),  and  the  whole  carefully  heated  over 
a  water  bath.  After  a  time  this  mixture  is  to  be 
filtered,  and  the  filtrate  well  washed  with  boiling 
distilled  water,  and  the  filtered  fluid  subjected  to 
evaporation.  When  dry  the  substance  is  to  be 
rubbed  up  with  distilled  water,  and  again  filtered  ; 
this  process  to  be  repeated  until  a  tolerably  pure 
product  be  obtained.  This  is  next  to  be  neutral- 
ized by  hydrogen  sodium  carbonate,  or  bicarbonate 
of  soda,  and  the  freed  alkaloid  taken  up  by  rub- 
bing or  shaking  it  with  chloroform  or  ether,  and 
the  whole  set  aside  in  a  well-corked  tall  test  tube. 
Finally,  the  ether  or  chloroform  containing  the  al- 
kaloid is  to  be  removed  by  a  pipette  and  allowed 
to  evaporate  spontaneously,  when  the  alkaloid 
will  probably  be  left  behind  in  a  state  fit  for  testing. 
This  process  is  a  modification  of  that  invented  by 
Stas,  in  following  out  the  case  of  the  Count 
Bocarme. 

II.  For  the  destruction  of  organic  matter  in  the 
search  for  an  inorganic  poison,  such  as  arsenic,  a 
process  introduced  by  Fresenius  and  Von  Babo 
is  commonly  employed.  Its  essentials  are  as 
follows  :  The  organic  matter  is  to  be  reduced  to  as 
fine  shreds  as  possible,  and  mixed  with  about  one- 
eighth  of  its  bulk  of  pure  hydrochloric  acid.  Thisis 
to  be  heated,  and,  as  it  boils,  from  time  to  time  crys- 
tals of  potassic  chlorate  are  added,  until  the  solids 
are  reduced  to  a  straw-yellow  fluid.  This  is  next 
treated  with  hydrogen  sodium  sulphite,  or  bisul- 


32  INTRODUCTION. 

phate  of  soda,  until  a  distinct  smell  of  sulphur- 
ous acid  is  given  off,  after  which  sulphretted 
hydrogen  is  to  be  passed  through  the  fluid,  con- 
centrated if  necessary,  for  some  hours,  thus  throw- 
ing down  most  metallic  poisons  in  the  form  of 
sulphide.  This  precipitate  is  to  be  collected  and 
further  tested. 

When  exceedingly  small  quantities  are  dealt  with 
the  microscope  is  of  use,  and  the  plan  of  subliming 
alkaloids  and  examining  their  crystals  under  the 
microscope,  introduced  by  Guy  and  Helwig,  will 
be  found  very  useful.  The  shape  of  crystalline 
poisons  is  a  valuable  means  of  determining  their 
iudentity  ;  arsenic  and  antimony  may  thus  be  read- 
ily distinguished,  as  may  other  well  known  sub- 
stances. 

The  spectrum  has  not  yet  been  applied  to  tox- 
icological  research,  although  it  has  been  employed 
to  determine  the  existence  of  a  blood  stain. 


CHAPTER  V. 

CLASSIFICATION  OF    POISONS. 

There  is  nothing  more  difficult  in  toxicology 
than  to  give  a  satisfactory  classification  of  poi- 
sons, insomuch  that  some  have  fallen  back  on  the 
no-classification,  or  natural  history  system,  and 
grouped  poisons  as  mineral,  vegetable,  and  ani- 
mal,   according   to    their  source.     In  despair     of 


CLASSIFICATION    OF    POISONS.  33 

achieving  anything  better,  a  modification  of  the 
old  and  well-known  system  is  here  followed,  poi- 
sons being  classed  as  Corrosives,  Irritants  (Simple 
and  Specific),  and  Neurotics  ;  the  latter  group  is, 
however,  further  subdivided,  somethinginthe  same 
way  as  that  adopted  by  Dr.  Guy.  The  group  of 
corrosives  should  comprehend  all  which  by  contact 
destroy  the  bodily  textures,  and  so  occasion  death. 
These  same  substances,  when  diluted,  may  be  inca- 
pable of  destroying  the  tissues  directly,  but  may 
do  so  by  setting  up  inflammation ;  these  with  certain 
others  having  like  effects,  would  form  the  group 
of  simple  irritants.  They  kill  by  virtue  of  their 
secondary  effects  on  the  constitution.  But  some 
substances,  like  arsenic,  are  not  only  capable  of 
inducing  local  inflammations,  with  their  secondary 
effects,  but  are  also  possessed  of  certain  specific 
and  well  marked  properties  differing  in  each  case. 
These  are  specific  irritants. 

Neurotics  comprehend  all  poisons  whose  effects 
are  mostly  referable  to  the  nervous  system,  neces- 
sarily a  most  diverse  group,  which  we  are  not  yet 
in  a  position  to  minutely  analyze.  Some,  however, 
act  mainly  on  the  brain,  some  on  the  spinal  cord, 
some  on  certain  nerves  only,  or  on  the  basomotor 
system  of  nerves ;  some  act  it  is  hardly  possible 
to  tell  how. 

There  was  an  old  group  of  s^/j^/c  poisons;  to  this 
might  still  be  referred  certain  noxious  gases,  such 
as  sulphuretted  hydrogen;  or  were  it  made  to  in- 
clude all  poisons  acting  directly  on  the  blood,  it 
would  include  the  still  more  dangerous  gas,  car- 
bonic oxide. 

The  following  table  exhibits  these  subdivisions, 
and  some  of  the  poisons  contained  in  each: 


34 


INTRODUCTION. 


Stronsr  Mineral  Acids 


Vegetable  A.cid 
Alkalies       .    . 


Simple  Ibbitants 


Specific  Ieritants 


Neubotics 


C  Sulphuric. 
■<  Nitric. 
(Hydrochloric. 

Oxalic. 
;i  Strong  Alkalies. 

Alkaline  Carbonates,  &c. 

The  above  diluted. 

Lime. 

Zinc. 

Silver,  &c. 

Arsenic. 

Mercury. 

Antimony. 

Phosphorus. 

Iodine,  &c. 

Opium. 

Prussic  Acid. 

Chloroform. 

Belladonna. 

Aconite. 

Strychina. 

Conium. 

Tobacco,  &c. 


Irritant  poisons  give  rise  to  pain  in  the  stomach 
and  bowels,  faintness  and  sickness,  and  purofing 
with  tenesmus.  The  evacuations  are  often  tinged 
with  blood,  the  pulse  is  feeble  and  in-egular,  and 
the  skin  cold.  Many  of  the  substances  of  this  class 
from  irritating  the  tissues  with  which  they  come  in 
contact,  produce  a  severe  burning  sensation  in  the 
mouth  and  oesophagus,  as  well  as  in  the  stomach. 
The  degree  of  local  destructive  action  produced 
will  of  course  vary  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of 
the  vehicle  with  which  the  noxious  agent  may  be 
diluted.  Irritants  cause  death  by  inducing  col- 
lapse or  convulsions,  or  by  exciting  severe  in- 
flammation; or.  after  a  variable  interval,  by  lead- 
ing to  stricture  of  the  oesophagus.  The  diseases 
which  most  resemble  the  action  of  irritants  are, 
malignant  cholera,  severe  diarrhoea,  colic,  gastritis, 
enteritis,  rupture  of  the  stomach  or  intestines,  and 


CLASSIFICATION    OF    POISONS.  35 

obstruction  of  the  bowels,  mechanical  or  other- 
wise. 

The  symptoms  of  apoplexy,  epilepsy,  and  uraemia 
bear  a  resemblance  to  those  caused  by  some  of  the 
poisons  of  the  neurotic  class.  Others  give  rise  to 
delirum  with  spectral  illusions  or  convulsions. 
Sometimes  there  is  tetanus,  sometimes  coma  or 
syncope.  Diseases  of  the  brain  and  spinal  cord, 
likely  to  be  confounded  with  these,  are  often  very 
insidious  in  their  progress,  and  hence  may  sud- 
denly give  rise  to  suspicious  symptoms.  The  his- 
tory, mode  of  attack,  &c.,  will  generally  negative 
any  suspicion  of  poisoning- 


I.-CORROSIVES. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE    CONCENTRATED    MINERAL    ACIDS. 

The  first  division  of  the  Corrosive  consists  of 
the  Strong  Mineral  Acids.  In  this  chapter  we 
have  to  review  the  effects.  &c.,  of  the  acids  com- 
monly encountered,  which  are  Sulphuric  Acid, 
Nitric  Acid,  Hydrochloric  Acid,  or  a  mixture  of 
two  or  more  of  them. 

Sulphuric  Acid  [Oil  of  Vitriol). — This  heavy, 
oily  looking  liquid  is  met  with  in  two  states,  con- 
centrated and  diluted  ;  and  being  extensively  em- 
ployed in  commerce  and  manufactures  is  much 
more  frequently  used  as  a  poison  than  the  other 
mineral  acids.  Many  infants  and  young  children 
have  been  poisoned  by  it ;  occasionally  also  men, 
under  the  influence  of  drink.  The  acid  is  not  un- 
frequently  thrown  over  the  person,  either  to  dis- 
figure the  features  or  to  destroy  the  clothes.  The 
parts  of  the  body  with  which  it  is  brought  into 
contact  are  stained  at  first  of  a  white,  and  after- 
wards of  a  dark  brown  or  black  color.  The 
smallest  fatal  dose  of  concentrated  acid  recorded, 
in  the  adult,  is  one  drachm ;  but  recovery  has  taken 
place  after  as  much  as  two  ounces.  But  it  must  be 
understood  that  the  acid  proves  fatal  mainly  by  its 
power  of  corrosion,  so  that  a  small  dose  of  the  con- 
centrated acid  is  more  dangerous  than  is  a  much 
larger  dose  of  it  in  the  dilute  form.     The  average 


THH    CONCENTRATED    MINERAL    ACIDS.  37 

period  at  which  death  occurs  fs  from  sixteen  to 
twenty-four  hours  ;  but  on  the  other  hand,  death 
may  not  occur  for  months,  and  may  only  follow 
the  organic  changes  induced  by  cicatrization  fol- 
lowing the  swallowing  of  the  acid,  or  the  malnu- 
trition following  its  destructive  action  on  the  coats 
of  the  stomach. 

Tests. — It  is  not  within  the  province  of  these 
Memoranda  to  treat  of  the  various  processes  by 
which  poisons  are  to  be  detected  ;  for  to  make  a 
trustworthy  analysis  requires  the  skill  of  a  pro- 
fessed chemist,  whose  assistance  should  be  allowed 
in  these  medico-legal  investigations.  Where  the 
character  of  a  dead  man  or  the  life  of  a  supposed 
criminal  is  at  stake  there  must  be  no  chance  of 
error.  The  ordinary  tests  will,  however,  be  briefly 
described,  if  only  to  help  the  physician  to  treat 
the  case  more  satisfactorily  than  he  could  do  by 
merely  guessing  that  an  irritant  or  narcotic  had 
been  employed  : 

Concentrated  sulphuric  acid  is  usually  a  brown- 
ish colored  liquid,  which  chars  or  corrodes  wood 
or  other  organic  matter  brought  into  contact  with 
it,  and  when  mixed  with  water  gives  out  heat. 
When  diluted,  its  presence  may  be  thus  de- 
tected : 

1.  The  liquid  is  known  to  be  acid  by  its  action 
on  litmus  paper. 

2.  Add  to  a  portion  of  the  suspected  liquid  a  few 
drops  of  nitric  acid,  and  then  a  solution  of  nitrate 
of  barium;  a  white  precipitate  (sulphate  of  barium) 
will  fall  if  sulphuric  acid  be  present.  This  test  is 
extremely  delicate  ;  for  although  other  acids  yield 
a  precipitate  on  the  addition  of  nitrate  of  barium, 
yet  as  such  deposits  are  all  soluble  in  nitric  acid 
the  previous  addition  of  this  acid  will  prevent 
their  formatiou. 


38  CORROSIVES. 

3.  The  precipitate  should  next  be  collected, 
dried;  and  reduced  with  charcoal  bv  the  blow-pipe 
flame  to  the  condition  of  barium  sulphide.  This, 
when  treated  with  a  drop  of  hydrochloric  acid, 
gives  off  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  known  by  black- 
ening paper  dipped  in  acetate  of  lead  solution. 

To  examine  a  piece  of  cloth  stained  with  this 
poison  it  is  only  necessary  to  boil  it  in  distilled 
water  and  then  apply  to  the  liquid  the  barium  test 
as  before. 

XiTRic  Acid  {Aqua  fortis.  Red  Spirit  of  Xitre). — 
This  substance  has  been  employed  as  a  poison  for 
upwards  of  four  centuries.  Like  the  oil  of  vitriol 
it  is  found  in  commerce  in  a  concentrated  and  in  a 
diluted  state.  Cases  of  poisoning  by  it  are  rare. 
It  produces  a  yellow  stain  on  the  skin.  Two 
drachms  is  the  smallest  quantity  which  has  de- 
stroyed life  ;  but  less  than  this  would  probably  prove 
fatal,  if  it  produced  much  corrosion  about  the 
wind-pipe.  Death  has  occurred  from  it,  in  one 
hour  and  three  quarters ;  the  average  would  be 
within  twenty-four  hours. 

Several  cases  ending  fatally  have  followed  the 
inhalation  of  the  fumes  of  this  acid,  probably  by- 
inducing  very  extensive  inflammation  of  the  lung. 

Tests. — The  concentrated  acid  may  be  known 
by  its  orange-colored  irritating  fumes,  and  by  its 
action  on  copper,  tin,  or  mercury. 

1.  When  poured  on  copper-filings,  effervescence 
takes  place,  a  red  acid  vapor  is  given  off.  and  a 
green  liquid  remains  (solution  of  nitrate  of  copper). 

2.  In  a  diluted  state  it  is  detected  by  its  acid 
reaction ;  by  no  precipitate  being  obtained  by 
nitrate  of  barium  or  by  nitrate  of  silver,  proving 
the  absence  of  sulphuric  and  hydrochloric  acids; 
further,  by  neutralizing  the  liquid  with  potass, 
evaporating  it,    and    then    procuring  crystals    of 


THE  CONCENTRATED  MINERAL  ACIDS.     39 

nitrate  of  potassium,  in  the  form  of  lengthened 
fluted  prisms,  which  are  permanent  in  the  air. 
These  crystals  may  be  powdered  and  moistened 
with  strong  sulphuric  acid,  when  a  colorless  acid 
vapor  (nitric  acid)  will  be  evolved.  Or  the  pow- 
dered crystals  may  be  mixed  with  an  equal  bulk 
of  fine  copper  filings,  moistened  with  water,  and 
treated  with  a  few  drops  of  sulphuric  acid;  when 
ruddy  acid  fumes  will  be  given  off. 

3.  Other  tests  for  nitric  acid  are,  (a.)  its  action 
on  morphia,  which  it  turns  red  :  (i>.)  its  action  on 
green  iron  sulphate,  which  it  blackens  :  (f,)  a  trace 
of  it  along  with  sulphuric  acid  gives  with  narcotine 
a  blood  red  color;  and  finally.  {(/,)  along  with 
hydrochloric  acid  it  dissolves  gold. 

Hydrochloric  Acid  {Muriatic  Acid,  Spirit  of  Salt). 
— Not  more  than  half  a  dozen  cases  of  poisoning 
by  this  acid  have  occurred  in  the  last  fifteen  or 
twenty  years  in  this  country.  In  May,  1859,  a' 
woman  sixt^'-three  years  old  was  admitted  into 
King's  College  Hospital  within  three-quarters  of  an 
hour  of  swallowing  half  an  ounce  of  the  strong 
acid.  She  had  burning  pain  in  the  throat  and 
stomach,  vomiting  of  brown  shreddy  matters,  and 
great  prostration.  Death  occurred  in  eighteen 
hours,  from  the  corrosive  action  of  the  poison. 
This  is  the  smallest  dose  which  has  been  known 
to  prove  fatal. 

Tests. — The  concentrated  hydrochloric  acid  of 
commerce  is  of  a  yellowish  color,  it  fumes  in  the 
air  when  strong,  and  produces  dense  white  fumes 
with  the  vapor  of  ammonia. 

1.  It  may  be  identified  by  boiling  with  black 
oxide  of  manganese  ;  chlorine  being  given  off, 
which  is  known  by  its  odor,  color,  and  bleaching 
properties. 

2.  When  diluted,  its  presence  is  ascertained  by 


40  CORROSIVES. 

nitrate  of  silver  causing  a  dense  white  precipitate 
(chloride  of  silver).  The  chloride  is  distinguished 
from  other  salts  of  silver  by  (or,)  its  insolubility  in 
nitric  acid,  and  in  caustic  potass  ;  (b,)  by  its  being 
soluble  in  ammonia  ;  (c,)  by  its  melting  and  form- 
ing a  horny  mass  when  dried  and  heated. 

Mixed  Acids. — These  acids  being  used  for  com- 
mercial purposes  when  mixed — the  nitro -muriatic 
(aqua  regia)  to  dissolve  gold,  and  the  nitro-sul- 
phuric  (aqua  reginae)  to  dissolve  silver — might  oc- 
casion their  being  employed  as  poisons.  Sulphate 
of  indigo,  which  consists  of  a  solution  of  indigo 
in  strong  sulphuric  acid,  has  proved  fatal  in  cases 
where  it  has  been  accidentally  taken. 

Symptoms,  Treatment,  ^c. — The  symptoms  pro- 
duced by  the  mineral  acids  are  much  the  same  in 
all  cases.  There  is  violent,  burning  pain  in  the 
mouth,  oesophagus,  and  stomach,  commencing  m- 
mediately.  The  burning  is  followed  by  retching 
and  vomiting  of  a  dark  colored  liquid  with  shreds 
of  mucus,  and  portions  of  the  mucous  membrane 
of  the  oesophagus  or  stomach.  The  inside  of  the 
mouth  is  shrivelled  and  more  or  less  corroded  un- 
less the  agent  has  been  given  in  a  spoon  or  other- 
wise passed  over  the  tongue  to  the  back  of  the 
fauces.  The  outside  of  the  lips  and  mouth  will 
probably  present  the  stains  characteristic  of  the 
acid  used.  There  is  great  thirst,  difficulty  of  swal- 
lowing, and  impeded  respiration.  The  bowels  are 
confined  ;  the  urine  scanty  or  suppressed.  Next 
succeeds  great  exhaustion,  the  pulse  becomes  quick 
and  feeble,  and  the  skin  gets  cold  and  clammy. 
The  countenance  is  anxious  and  expressive  of  great 
suffering ;  death  speedily  occurs,  the  intellectual 
faculties  remaining  clear  to  the  last. 

These  acids  may  prove  fatal  without  entering 
the  stomach  by  causing  asphyxia,  the  chink  of  the 


THE    CONCENTRATED    MINERAL    ACIDS.  41 

glottis  becoming  closed  by  swelling  of  the  fauces, 
&c.  They  have  sometimes  been  administered  by 
the  vagina,  rectum,  &c.,  and  been  poured  into  the 
ear  during  sleep. 

Where  recovery  takes  place  from  their  immediate 
effects  there  is  always  fear  of  death  resulting  at 
the  end  of  one  or  two  years  from  stricture  of  the 
oesophagus,  and  even  at  an  earlier  period,  unless 
proper  treatment  is  adopted.  Occasionally  one  of 
the  secondary  effects  of  sulphuric  acid  has  been 
profuse  salivation. 

The  post-mortem  appearances  are  the  following : 
The  body  may  have  a  healthy  appearance.  Usually 
there  are  stains  about  the  mouth,  fingers,  and 
wherever  the  cuticle  has  been  reached  by  the  acid. 
The  inner  surface  of  the  mouth,  fauces,  and 
oesophagus,  is  usually  white  and  corroded,  or 
dark  brown  and  shrivelled,  the  mucous  coat  being 
easily  detached.  The  epiglottis  and  glottis  are 
usually  swollen.  The  gullet  resembles  the  mouth 
in  most  respects.  The  outer  surface  of  the  stom- 
ach and  intestines  is  very  vascular,  that  of  the 
former  being  sometimes  corroded  and  occasionally 
perforated.  The  stomach  is  sometimes  contracted, 
sometimes  distended  with  gas,  and  contains  a 
thick,  dark  brown  fluid  ;  its  inner  surface  has  a 
charred,  blackened  appearance,  the  mucous  mem- 
brane between  the  rugte  being  of  a  scarlet  hue. 
The  pylorus  is  mostly  contracted  ;  while  the  inner 
coat  of  the  duodenum  and  small  intestines  presents 
a  similar  appearance,  in  a  less  degree,  to  that  of 
the  stomach.  When  perforation  occurs  it  usually 
takes  place  posteriorly,  and  the  edges  of  the  rent 
are  softened.  The  escaped  matters  may  have  acted 
on  the  adjacent  viscera. 

According  to  Casper,  after  poisoning  by  sul- 
phuric   acid    the    bodies    resist    putrefaction    for 


42  CORROSIVES. 

some  time,  owing  perhaps  to  the  acid  neutralizing 
the  ammonia  of  decomposition.  It  may  be  the 
same  with  the  other  mineral  acids. 

Treatment. — Bicarbonate  of  soda,  or  calcined 
magnesia,  or  the  carbonate  of  magnesia,  should  be 
immediately  given,  mixed  in  milk  or  any  mucilagin- 
ous fluid;  the  doses  being  continued  at  short  in- 
tervals, until  it  may  be  inferred  that  the  acid  is 
neutralized.  In  the  absence  of  these  remedies 
substitutes  may  be  found  in  chalk,  whiting,  soap 
and  water,  or  the  plaster  of  the  apartment  beaten 
up  with  water.  Oleaginous  and  mucilaginous 
fluids,  as  olive  oil,  linseed  tea,  barley  water,  milk 
gruel.  &c.,  may  be  freely  given,  either  alone,  or  as 
the  vehicles  of  the  antidote.  The  success  of  this 
treatment  will  depend  upon  the  promptitude  with 
which  it  is  adopted. 

The  stomach  pump  should  not  be  employed; 
the  disorganized  and  softened  state  of  the  gullet 
and  stomach,  rendering  them  excessively  liable  to 
perforation. 

Should  the  larynx  be  affected  and  the  breathing 
impeded,  tracheotomy  must  be  at  once  had  re- 
course to. 

After  a  sufficiency  of  the  antidote  has  been 
given  the  use  of  mucilaginous  diluents  must  be 
continued  for  some  time,  and  the  subsequent 
treatment  will  be  that  for  gastro-enteritis.  Great 
benefit  will  be  derived  from  the  use  of  oily 
euemata. 

The  external  parts  which  have  been  injured  by 
the  acid  should  be  well  bathed  with  soap  and 
water,  and  treated  like  burns. 


VEGETABLE    ACIDS.  43 

CHAPTER  VII. 

THE    CORROSIVE   VEGETABLE    ACIDS. 

Oxalic  Acid  [Acid  of  Sugar). — This  is  one  of  the 
most  important  poisons  with  which  we  have  to 
deal.  From  its  cheapness  and  well-known  proper- 
ties it  is  frequently  made  use  of  in  cases  of  suicide, 
while  from  its  resemblance  to  Epsom  salts  it  has 
on  several  occasions  been  taken  in  mistake  for 
that  medicine.  The  smallest  dose  which  is  known 
to  have  proved  fatal  is  one  drachm,  which  killed  a 
boy  set.  sixteen  in  eight  hours.  Taylor  relates  the 
case  of  a  woman,  aged  twenty-eight,  who  was  found 
dead  one  hour  after  swallowing  three  drachms  of 
the  crystallized  acid.  Christison  mentions  an  in- 
stance in  which  one  ounce  destroyed  life  in  ten 
minutes,  and  another  case  where  the  same  quantity 
killed  a  girl  in  thirty  minutes.  One  example  has 
been  recorded  where  a  fatal  result  ensued  pro- 
bably within  three  minutes  of  the  acid  being 
swallowed. 

The  poisonous  properties  of  the  Binozalate  of 
Potash  (Salt  of  Sorrel,  Essential  Salt  of  Lemons) 
are  due  to  the  oxalic  acid  it  contains.  This  salt, 
which  exists  in  the  leaves  of  the  wood  sorrel 
(Oxalis  acetosella),  is  sold  to  bleach  straw,  remove 
ink-stains,  &c.  It  is  very  cheap ;  is  almost  as 
powerful  as  oxalic  acid  itself,  and  gives  rise  to  the 
same  kind  of  symptoms;  it  has  been  taken  for  the 
purpose  of  suicide,  as  well  as  in  mistake  for  the 
bitartrate  of  potash,  or  cream  of  tartar. 

Oxalate  of  lime  exists  in  considerable  quantity 
in  the  leaves  and  stalks  of  the  common  edible 
rhubarb  (Rheum  Rhaponticum.)  It  can  hardly  be 
considered  poisonous. 


44  CORROSIVES, 

Stimptoms. — The  effects  of  poisoning  by  oxalic 
acid  are  peculiar.  When  the  dose  is  large  (half  an 
ounce  or  more)  and  the  solution  concentrated,  it 
proves  very  rapidly  fatal.  It  produces  a  hot  burn- 
ing sensation  in  the  fauces  and  cesophagus  in  the 
act  of  swallowing,  severe  burning  pain  in  the 
stomach,  and  in  most  instances  immediate  vomit- 
ing. The  vomited  matters  are  strongly  acid,  of  a 
dirty  green  or  black  color,  and  consist  of  the 
contents  of  the  stomach  with  altered  mucus  and 
blood.  The  remaining  symptoms  are  a  sense  of 
constriction  or  suffoc-ation,  lividity  of  the  counte- 
nance, great  prostration  of  strength,  feeble  pulse, 
cold  clammy  perspirations,  and  convulsions,  which 
speedily  terminate  in  death.  AVhen  a  smaller 
quantity  has  been  taken,  much  diluted,  its  corro- 
sive properties  are  weakened  or  destroyed,  but 
the  nervous, symptoms,  as  cramps  and  numbness, 
may  be  well  marked. 

In  cases  of  recovery  the  mouth  may  remain  sore 
for  some  time,  the  tongue  swollen,  the  abdomen 
tender,  the  stomach  very  irritable,  and  there  may 
be  troublesome  diarrhoea.  In  two  instances  there 
has  been  loss  of  voice  for  several  days,  owing  to 
the  action  of  the  poison  on  the  nervous  system. 
Twitching  of  the  muscles  of  the  face  and  extremi- 
ties has  also  been  observed. 

Post-mortem  Appearances. — The  mucous  mem- 
brane of  the  fauces,  oesophagus,  and  stomach  is 
generally  white  and  brittle,  but  often  colored  with 
the  brown  mucous  matter  discharged.  The  stomach 
often  contains  a  black  fluid,  like  coffee-grounds, 
consisting  principally  of  altered  blood  ;  and  its  sub- 
mucous coats  are  vascular  and  dark  colored.  The 
stomach  though  seldom  perforated,  may  yet  be  so 
softened  as  to  be  with  difhculty  removed  entire, 
and  sometimes  this  is  not  possible.     This  soften- 


VEGETABLE    ACIDS.  45 

ing  may  be  due  to  the  post-mortem  action  of  the 
poison  ;  but  its  eflfects  during;  life  in  softening  and 
bleaching  the  mucous  membrane  are  suflSciently 
marked.  Occasionally  the  stomach  is  black  and 
gangrenous  looking.  If  death  has  occurred  quickly, 
the  small  intestines  are  seldom  much  affected  ;  but 
where  the  symptoms  have  been  protracted  there 
are  usually  signs  of  congestion  and  inflammation. 

Treatment. — Chalk,  whiting,  or  magnesia,  sus- 
pended in  water,  or  in  some  demulcent  fluid, 
must  be  administered  immediately ;  and  if  neces- 
sary, vomiting  should  be  excited  by  tickling  the 
fauces,  or  administering  emetics  of  sulphate  of  zinc 
and  ipecacuan,  followed  b\^  large  quantities  of  emol- 
lient drinks.  The  antidote,  to  be  effective,  must 
be  given  as  soon  as  possible,  the  plaster  of  the 
apartment,  or  any  form  of  mortar  being  used  in  the 
absence  of  the  remedies  just  mentioned.  Alkalies 
(soda,  potash,  or  their  carbonates)  are  not  only 
useless,  but  they  form  salts  with  oxalic  acid,  which 
are  as  injurious  as  the  acid  itself.  When  there 
are  symptoms  of  collapse  ,  stimulants  are  to  be 
freely  employed. 

From  the  tendency  to  softening,  the  stomach- 
pump  should  not  be  used. 

Tests. — Crystals  of  oxalic  acid  are  met  with  as 
four-sided  prisms,  colorless,  without  odor  per- 
manent in  the  air,  and  very  acid  ;  this  last  char- 
acter distinguishing  them  from  crystals  of  sulphate 
of  magnesia  and  sulphate  of  zinc.  The  crystals, 
when  heated,  melt,  and  are  dissipated  without 
combustion,  and  leaving  no  residue.  This  char- 
acter is  important  as  a  means  of  distinguishing 
oxalic  acid  from  other  similar  crystals.  They  are 
soluble  in  from  eight  to  twelve  parts  of  cold  water. 
This  acid  may  be  thus  recognised  in  solution  : 

1.  Nitrate  of  silver  throws  down,  with  oxalic  acid, 
4 


46  CORROSIVES. 

an  abundant  white  precipitate  (oxalate  of  silver), 
"which  is  soluble  in  nitric  acid.  The  oxalate  of 
silver,  when  dried  and  heated  on  platinum  foil, 
detonates,  and  is  dissipated  in  a  white  vapor. 

2.  Sulphate  of  calcium  causes  a  white  precipitate 
with  oxalic  acid  (oxalate  of  calcium)  which  is 
soluble  in  nitric  or  hydrochloric,  but  not  in  any 
vegetable  acid. 

The  solution  containing  the  acid  should  be  con- 
centrated before  testing,  if  it  be  not  present  in 
considerable  quantity. 

Lime  water  and  all  soluble  lime  salts  throw 
down  precipitates  with  oxalic  acid  ;  but  as  these 
are  liable  to  be  mistaken  for  a  precipitate  with 
sulphuric  acid,  it  is  better  to  use  sulphate  of 
calcium  which  is  slightly  soluble,  as  the  test  agent. 
A  good  deal  of  the  test  solution  must  be  used,  and 
the  precipitate  takes  time  to  settle. 

3.  Sulphate  of  copper  gives  a  faint  bluish  precipi- 
tate with  oxalic  acid  (oxalate  of  copper,)  which  is 
not  redissolved  by  a  few  drops  of  hydrochloric 
acid. 

These  tests  will  not  act  if  the  solution  contain 
nitric  acid  in  excess,  in  which  case  the  liquid 
must  be  evaporated  to  crystallization,  and  the 
crystals  washed  and  redissolved  in  water. 

These  tests  for  oxalic  acid  should  never  be  ap- 
plied without  previously  separating  it  from  all  or- 
ganic matter  This  is  best  done  by  first  of  all  acid- 
ulating the  suspected  fluid  with  acetic  acid,  and 
then  adding  acetate  of  lead,  which  combines  with 
the  oxalic  acid  to  form  a  white  insoluble  salt,  which 
may  ordinarily  be  removed  by  filtration  or  subsi- 
dence. This  filtrate,  after  being  well  washed,  is 
to  be  diffused  in  water,  and  into  this  a  current  of 
sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas  is  to  be  passed  for  some 
considerable  time.     This  will  throw  down  the  lead 


VEGETABLE    ACIDS.  47 

as  sulphide,  leaving  the  oxalic  acid  in  the  fluid  ; 
any  organic  matter  will  also  be  carried  down. 
Filtration  will  separate  the  solids  from  the  liquid 
containing  the  acid,  which  may  now  be  evaporated 
until  crystals  are  formed,  which  may  be  tested  in 
the  usual  way. 

Acetic  Acid. — Although  this  acid,  in  its  con- 
centrated state,  is  highly  corrosive,  yet  it  is  xevy 
seldom  brought  under  the  notice  of  the  toxicolo- 
gist. 

In  the  case  of  a  young  woman  reported  by  Orfila, 
death  quickly  occurred  after  several  attacks  of 
convulsions.  At  the  subsequent  post-mortem  ex- 
amination, the  integuments  of  the  dependent  parts 
of  the  body  were  found  very  livid  ;  the  tongue  and 
oesophagus  were  of  a  dirty  brown  color,  the  latter 
being  intersected  by  a  fine  net-work  of  capillary 
vessels  ;  and  the  interior  of  the  stomach  was  in- 
terspersed with  black  elevations  caused  by  the 
presence  of  coagulated  blood  in  the  sub-mu- 
cous areolar  tissue.  The  mucous  membrane  was 
entire. 

As  regards  the  treatment,  it  is  only  necessary  to 
administer  draughts  containing  magnesia  or  its 
carbonate,  followed  by  mucilaginous  or  demulcent 
drinks. 

Tartaric  Acid,  though  not  a  corrosive,  may  be 
here  placed  along  with  the  other  vegetable  acids. 
Strange  as  it  may  seem,  tartaric  acid  has  destroyed 
life  in  at  least  one  instance  in  this  country ;  an 
ounce  having  been  given  in  mistake  for  an  aperi- 
ent salt.  The  deceased  swallowed  the  whole  at 
once,  and  immediately  called  out  that  he  had  been 
poisoned.  He  complained  of  intense  pain  in  the 
throat  and  stomach,  as  if  he  had  swallowed  oil  of 
vitriol,  or  was  on  fire.  Soda  and  magnesia  were 
administered  without  avail  ;    and  after  death,  at 


48  CORROSIVES. 

the  end  of  nine  days'  suffering,  the  stomach  and 
intestines  were  found  much  inflammed. 


CHAPTER  YIII. 


THE    CAUSTIC    ALKALIES    AND    THEIR    CARBONATES  J 
POTASH,    SODA,    AMMONIA. 

The  second  division  of  the  class  of  Corrosives 
has  now  to  be  considered.  It  contains  the  Caustic 
Alkalies,  and  some  of  their  Salts.  Poisoning  by 
any  of  these  agents  is  rare. 

Potash. — This  substance,  in  its  caustic  state,  as 
found  in  commerce,  is  int  he  form  of  grey-colored 
cakes.  It  has  an  acrid  taste,  is  soapy  to  the  touch, 
and  very  deliquescent.  Moulded  in  cylinders,  it  is 
often  employed  as  a  caustic  (Potassa  fusa).  In 
solution  (Liquor  potassa?)  it  is  strongly  alkaline, 
and  imparts  a  brown  stain  to  black  cloth. 

Potassium  carbonate  or  Carbonate  of  Potash  (Pearl- 
ash)  is  extensively  used  by  laundresses  and  in  the 
dressing  of  woollen  cloth.  It  is  generally  sold  in  a 
granular  condition,  white,  inodorous,  and  strongly 
alkaline  ;  it  is  soluble  in  water,  but  not  in  alcohol. 

Caustic  Soda. — This  agent  resembles  potash  in 
its  general  properties.  The  Sodium  Carbonate  or 
Carbonate  of  Soda  (Soap-lees)  bears  a  similar  re- 
semblance to  the  carbonate  of  potash,  except  that 
it  crystallizes  easily,  and  effloresces  on  exposure  to 
the  air. 

Ammonia. — When  pure,  ammonia  is  a  colorless, 
pungent  gas  ;  but  it  is  commonly  met  with  dis- 
solved   in  water,    as    the    liquor    amraoniie.     Its 


THE    CAUSTIC    ALKALIES.  49 

vapor  is  poisonous,  and  may  prove  fatal  by  pro- 
ducing inflammation  of  the  larynx  and  trachea, 
and  even  of  the  lungs.  A  case  is  recorded  of  a 
French  boy,  set.  six,  who  killed  his  younger  sister 
by  making  her  swallow  several  teaspoonfuls  of  a 
solution  of  ammonia.  Other  instances  have  also  oc- 
curred where  the  liquor  ammonite  has  either  been 
taken  in  mistake  for  the  aromatic  spirit  of  ammonia}, 
or  purposely,  to  destroy  life.  An  instance  is  record- 
ed by  Dr.  Taylor,  as  occurring  in  the  practice  of  Mr. 
Hilton,  where  liquor  ammouiee,  given  by  mistake, 
caused  corrosion  of  the  throat  and  gullet  and  ob- 
struction of  the  bronchial  tubes  by  false  mem- 
brane. The  oesophagus  was  completely  dissolved 
at  it^  junction  with  the  stomach,  and  there  was 
an  aperture  in  the  anterior  wall  of  that  organ  such 
as  might  have  been  caused  by  oil  of  vitriol. 

The  Ammonium  Carbonate  or  Carbonate  of  Am- 
monia (Hartshorn,  Smelling  Salts)  has  been  used 
as  a  poison.  It  may  be  distinguished  from  other 
salts  by  its  being  alkaline,  by  its  entire  volatility, 
and  by  its  pungent  odor.  A  young  woman  in  a 
state  of  unconsciousness,  was  made  to  swallow  a 
quantity  of  hartshorn.  In  an  hour  there  was  great 
pain,  sickness,  and  vomiting  of  blood.  The  hjema- 
temesis  continued  for  some  days,  and  then  feeble- 
ness and  emaciation  set  in,  death  occurring  in 
three  months.  On  examination  the  pylorus  was 
found  contracted  to  the  size  of  a  crow-quill,  while 
there  was  a  large  cicatrix  on  the  posterior  wall  of 
the  stomach. 

Symptoms. — The  chief  symptoms  occasioned  by 
the  foregoing  poisons  are,  an  acrid,  burning  taste, 
with  a  sensation  of  excoriation  and  burning  ex- 
tending along  the  mouth  and  throat,  to  the  sto- 
mach. There  soon  ensue  exquisite  pain  in  the 
epigastrium,    and  tenderness   on   pressure.     Fre- 


50  CORROSIVES. 

quently  there  is  cough,  hoarseness,  dyspnoea,  as 
■well  as  vomiting  of  altered  mucus  mixed  with 
blood  and  detached  portions  of  the  mucous  mem- 
brane. The  tongue,  mouth,  and  fauces  become 
swollen,  soft,  and  i:\bby.  and  deglutition  is  diffi- 
cult. The  surface  of  the  body  gets  cold  and  moist, 
the  pulse  small  and  feeble,  and  there  is  great  pain 
over  the  abdomen,  with  diarrhoea.  Death  took 
place,  in  the  case  of  a  boy,  in  three  hours  from 
the  time  of  swallowing  a  strong  solution  of  car- 
bonate of  potash.  Ammonia,  by  its  effect  on  the 
air  passages,  has  proved  fatal  in  four  minutes. 
"When  recovery  from  the  immediate  effects  of  the 
poison  has  taken  place,  death  has  subsequently 
ensued  from  stricture  of  the  oesophagus,  producing 
starvation.  By  the  proper  use  of  bougies,  &c.,  life 
may  occasionally  be  prolonged  for  many  months, 
or  even  for  years.  In  some  instances,  however,  it 
is  almost  impossible  to  effect  dilatation,  owing  to 
the  whole  of  the  gullet  becoming  thickened  and 
contracted,  so  that  the  opening  into  the  stomach 
will  hardly  admit  a  crow-quill.  The  pylorus  may 
also  be  contracted  in  like  manner. 

Post-mortem  Ap})earances. — The  mucous  mem- 
brane of  the  mouth  and  gullet  is  softened  and  in- 
flamed, and  portions  of  it  detached.  The  coats  of 
the  stomach  and  intestines  are  inflamed,  stained 
of  a  dark  color,  and  sometimes  ulcerated.  When 
death  has  resulted  from  ammonia,  signs  of  inflam- 
mation are  usually  found  in  the  larynx  and  bron- 
chial tubes.  The  other  caustic  alkalies  may  also 
destroy  life  by  producing  inflammation  of  the 
glottis,  which  consequently  may  be  found  thus 
occluded  after  death. 

Treatment. — The  object  must  be  to  neutralize  the 
poison,  which  may  be  effected  by  a  weak  acid. 
Vinegar  and  water  is  perhaps  the  best  antidote, 


THE    CAUSTIC    ALKALIES.  51 

and  that  most  readily  procurable  ;  its  administra- 
tion may  be  followed  up  by  freely  allowing  acid- 
ulated demulcent  drinks,  orange-juice,  &c.  The 
use  of  oil  has  been  recommended,  on  the  principle 
that  it  converts  the  alkali  into  a  soap.  But  that 
its  efficacy  is  doubtful  has  been  in  some  measure 
shown  by  the  death  of  two  young  children  from 
swallowing  a  mixture  of  ammonia  and  oil.  In  one 
of  these  cases  nearly  two  ounces  of  linimentum 
ammoniaj  (made  of  one  part  of  liquor  ammonia  to 
two  of  olive  oil)  were  poured  down  an  infant's 
throat  by  a  child  five  years  old.  Were,  however, 
the  oil  given  in  much  greater  abundance,  the  re- 
sult would  probably  be  different,  At  all  events, 
its  administration  should  not  be  neglected. 

Tests. — The  specific  character  of  these  substances 
is  their  strongly  marked  alkalinity,  ammonia  pos- 
sessing, over  and  above,  that  of  volatility.  Pot- 
ash is  known  from  soda  by  being  precipitated  of  a 
creamy  yellow  by  platinum  perchloride,  soda  re- 
maining unaffected  by  that  reagent. 


II.-SBIPLE  IRRITANTS. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

SALTS  OF  THE  ALKALIES  AND  ALKALINE  EARTHS. 

Potassium  Nitrate  or  Xitrate  op  Potash 
[Xitre^  Saltpetre,  Salprunelle)  is  a  more  dangerous 
poison  than  is  commonly  supposed,  provided  the 
dose  be  large.  It  has  ordinarily  been  given  in 
mistake  for  other  salts  as  a  purgative,  and  in  one 
instance,  caused  death  in  about  two  hours,  in  an- 
other such  instance,  referred  to  by  Orfila,  an 
ounce  proved  fatal  in  three  hours.  It  produces 
symptoms  of  irritation  in  the  alimentary  canal, 
vomiting,  and  diarrhoea.  There  is  generally  also 
severe  pain  at  the  ])it  of  the  stomach,  trembling 
of  the  limbs,  scanty  urine,  and  collapse.  Marks 
of  violent  inflammation  are  found  after  death  in 
the  stomach  and  along  the  intestinal  canal. 

Potassium  Sulphate  or  Sulphate  of  Potash 
{Sal  Poli/chrest,  Sal  de  Duohus,  &c.)  has  proved 
fatal  when  taken  in  a  large  dose.  It  has  caused 
death  in  tvro  or  three  cases  when  purposely  ad- 
ministered to  procure  abortion.  Taylor  quotes 
an  instance  of  a  lady,  a  week  after  delivery,  being 
directed  by  her  medical  attendant  to  take  ten 
drachms  of  this  salt,  in  divided  doses  as  a  laxative. 
After  the  first  dose  she  was  seized  with  severe 
pain  in  the  stomach,  with  vomiting,  &c.,  the  sym- 
toms  increasing  after  each  dose,  and  proving  fatal 


SALTS    OF    THE    ALKALIES.  53 

in  two  hours.  At  the  post-mortem  examination 
the  mucous  membrane  of  the  stomach  and  intes- 
tines was  seen  to  be  soft  and  pale,  and  the  stomach 
contained  a  quantity  of  reddish-colored  liquid. 
This,  on  being:  analyzed,  was  found  to  contain  no 
other  irritant  but  this  salt. 

ElTARTRATE    OF    PoTASS  Or   HyDROGEN  PoTASSIUM 

Tartrate  [Cream of  Tartar^  Argol.) — This  salt  has 
caused  death  in  one  case  at  least,  in  which  about 
an  ounce  and  a  half  was  taken.  The  symptoms 
Avere  those  of  an  irritant  poison,  with  paralysis  of 
the  lower  extremities.  Death  occurred  within 
forty-eight  hours. 

SuLPHURET  OF  PoTASSiUM  [Liver  of  Sulphur)  has 
also  caused  death  as  an  irritant  poison. 

Treatment. — As  no  antidotes  are  known  to  these 
salts  the  treatment  must*  consist  in  producing 
vomiting  as  speedily  as  possible  by  means  of 
emetics  ;  or  the  stomach-pump  may  be  used.  De- 
mulcent drinks  should  be  freely  given  subsequently, 
with  soothing  applications  to  the  bowels.  Ice 
may  be  given  in  any  quantity. 

Lime  acts  as  an  irritant  poison,  though  a  feeble 
one,  when  taken  into  the  stomach  or  applied  to  a 
vital  part.  One  fatal  instance  is  reported,  where 
a  boy  swallowed  some  lime  in  an  apple-pie.  He 
died  in  nine  days,  after  suffering  from  a  burning 
pain  in  the  abdomen,  great  thirst,  and  obstinate 
constipation.  Unslaked  or  imperfectly  slaked 
lime  may  also  prove  fatal  by  being  inhaled,  and 
so  giving  rise  to  inflammation  of  the  glottis. 

Barium  Salts.- — Two  preparations  of  barium 
have  caused  death,  viz.,  the  chloride  and  the  car- 
bonate. These  may  also  give  rise  to  specific 
nervous  symptoms,  as  cramps  and  convulsions. 

Chloride  of  Barium  is  found  crystallized  in  irreg- 
ular plates  or  tables,  which  are  permanent  in  the 


54  SIMPLE    IRRITANTS. 

air.  soluble  in  water,  aud  of  a  disagreeable  bitter 
taste.  Half  an  ounce  has  proved  fatal  in  two 
hours,  after  causing  symptoms  of  irritation,  with 
vertigo,  paralysis  and  convulsions. 

Carbonate  of  Baryta  or  Barium  Carbonate,  in  its 
native  state,  occurs  in  massive  radiated  crystals, 
very  heavy,  and  nearly  colorless.  Artificially 
prepared,  as  sold  in  the  shops,  it  is  a  fine,  taste- 
less, odorless  powder,  almost  insoluble  in  hot  or 
cold  water.  One  drachm  is  said  to  have  destroyed 
life,  but  recovery  has  taken  place  after  a  much 
larger  dose. 

Treatment. — The  sulphate  of  soda  or  sulphate  of 
magnesia,  or  some  earthy  sulphate,  should  be 
speedily  administered,  by  which  the  poison  will 
be  converted  into  an  inert  insoluble  sulphate  of 
baryta.  Emetics  should  also  be  given,  or  the 
stomach-pump  used. 


CHAPTER  X. 

SALTS    OF    THE    METALS : 
ZIXC SILVEB TIN BISMUTH CHROME IRON. 

Two  preparations  of  zixc  must  be  noticed  : 
Sulphate  of  Zixc  ( White  Vitriol^  White  Cop- 
peras.)— This  is  a  very  mild  irritant,  resembling 
in  its  appearance  Epsom  salts  and  oxalic  acid.  It 
is  very  useful  as  an  emetic  in  scruple  or  half-drachm 
doses,  dissolved  in  any  thin  fluid. 

In  one  case  an  ounce  was  accidentally  taken. 
Great  pain  in  the  stomach,  vomiting,  and  pros- 
tration,  soon   set  in.      Subsequently   there   was 


SALTS    OF    THE    METALS.  55 

gastritis,  and  recovery  only  occurred  after  a  pro- 
longed convalescence. 

Treatment. — Vomiting  is  to  be  encouraged  by 
milk  or  albuminous  fluids  ;  after  which  remedies 
containing  tannin  (strong  tea,  decoction  of  oak 
bark,  or  tincture  of  Peruvian  bark)  are  to  be 
given. 

Chloride  of  Zi\c. — A  solution  of  chloride  of 
zinc  forms  a  valuable  disinfectant,  but  is  also  a 
dangerous  irritant,  or,  if  sufficiently  strong,  a  cor- 
rosive poison.  Sir  William  Burnett's  Fluid  con- 
sists of  gr.  XXV  of  this  salt  to  the  drachm  of  water. 
It  has  been  taken  in  mistake  for  fluid  magnesia, 
pale  ale,  &;c.,  and  has  caused  death. 

Symptoms. — A  burning  sensation  in  the  mouth 
and  throat  is  immediately  produced.  This  is  fol- 
lowed by  nausea,  vomiting,  and  signs  of  collapse. 
Death  has  occurred  in  less  than  four  hours. 

Post-mortevi  Appearances. — The  mucous  mem- 
brane of  the  throat  and  stomach  has  been  found 
corrugated,  hard,  and  leathery.  In  the  case  of  a 
sailor  who  died  from  about  half  a  pint  of  Burnett's 
solution,  the  body  was  livid,  the  neck  swollen, 
the  cerebral  vessels  were  engorged,  and  the  lungs 
were  congested.  The  mucous  coat  of  the  stomach 
was  of  a  purple  red,  and  partially  corroded,  while 
the  pyloric  orifice  looked  as  if  caustic  had  been 
applied  to  it.  There  were  patches  of  congestion 
in  different  parts  of  the  small  intestines. 

Treatment. — Albuminous  drinks,  followed  by 
some  preparation  of  tannin,  will  be  needed. 

Tests. — Zinc  is  distinguished  from  all  other  sub- 
stances by  giving  a  white  precipitate  with  sul- 
phuretted-hj-drogen.  The  solution  containing  it 
must  not  be  too  acid  or  no  precipitate  will  be 
formed.  Zinc  also  gives  white  precipitates  with 
ferrocyanide  of  potassium  and  ammonia. 


56  SIMPLE    IRRITANTS. 

Nitrate  of  Silver  [Lunar  Caustic). — This  is  a 
powerful  irritant,  and  has  proved  fatal  in  at  least 
two  instances.  The  antidote  is  common  salt, 
which  must  be  given  immediately,  followed  by 
emetics. 

Tix. — The  chlorides  of  tin  being  employed  in 
dyeing,  color-making,  &c..  may  lead  to  their  being 
used  as  poisons,  or  being  taken  accidentally. 
Death  from  their  use  is  rare.  They  are  decom- 
posed by  magnesia,  which  should  therefore  be 
freely  administered,  followed  by  albuminous  and 
mucilaginous  drinks. 

Bismuth. — The  nitrate  or  magistery  of  bismuth 
has  caused  death  in  nine  days,  after  a  dose  of  two 
drachms.  The  symptoms  were  those  of  a  strong 
irritant,  but  in  all  probability  were  caused  by 
some  impurity  in  the  substance.  Arsenic  is  fre- 
quently present  in  this  way.  As  no  antidote  is 
known,  vomiting  must  be  promoted  and  emollient 
drinks  freely  given. 

Chrome. — The  bichromate  of  potassium  is  found 
in  the  form  of  orange-red  crystals,  which  yield  a 
yellow  acid  solution.  It  is  used  as  a  dye,  and  has 
caused  death  in  more  than  one  instance.  Emetics 
and  magnesia  or  chalk,  must  be  the  remedies  em- 
ployed. 

It  is  well  to  know  that  this  substance  is  apt  to 
produce  troublesome  sores  on  the  hands  of  those 
engaged  in  its  manufacture.  Some  slight  abrasion 
begins  the  lesion,  which  does  not  heal,  but  forms 
on  its  surface  a  tough  slough,  which  separating, 
leaves  a  foul  ulcer  with  hard  edges,  and  most 
untractable,  behind  it. 

Sulphate  of  Irox  (Green  Vitriol,  Cbpperas). — 
Although  not  a  powerful  irritant,  sulphate  of  iron 
has  proved  fatal  when  taken  in  a  large  dose.  It 
is    sometimes    given    to    procure    abortion.      The 


VEGETABLE    AND    AMMAL    IRRITANTS.  57 

perchloride  of  iron  has  also  produced  alarming 
symptoms,  after  being  taken  for  the  same  purpose. 
Dr.  Christison  relates  the  case  of  a  man  who  died 
in  five  weeks  from  an  ounce  and  a  half  of  the 
tincture.  Magnesia  and  diluents,  freely  adminis- 
tered, must  constitute  the  treatment. 


CHAPTER  XL 

SIMPLE    VEGETABLE    AND    ANIMAL    IRRITANTS. 

This  division  of  the  class  of  simple  irritants  is 
an  important  one,  on  account  of  the  substances 
composing  it  consisting  in  considerable  part  of 
ordinary  remedies  or  drugs,  which  given  in  over 
doses,  ma}"  produce  sj'mptoms  of  poisoning.  They 
chiefly  give  rise  to  vomiting  and  purging. 

VEGETABLE    IRRITANTS, 

The  most  important  are  aloes^  colocynth^  jalap^ 
gamboge^  scammoni/,  elaterium,  croton  oilj  castor  oil 
seeds,  various  species  of  arum,  euphorhium,  hrxjony^ 
mesereoii,  physic  nut,  and  others  less  commonly 
known.  Dr.  Taylor  says  that  aloes  and  colocyuth 
are  the  basis  of  3Iorriso7i^s  pills,  which  in  many  in- 
stances have  induced  fatal  purging.  In  Holloicay's 
pills,  aloes  is  the  chief  ingredient.  A  favorite 
remedy  with  nurses  for  promoting  the  catamenia  is 
hierapicra,  a  brown  powder  consisting  of  four  parts 
of  aloes  to  one  of  canelia  bark.  This  may  give 
rise  to  dangerous  symptoms. 

The  symptoms  induced  by  these  substances  are 
those  of  irritation  of  the  intestinal  canal,  severe 
pain,  vomiting,  diarrhoea,  tenesmus,  &c. ;   followed 


58  SIMPLE    IRRITANTS. 

by  collapse,  cold  sweats,  and  occasionally  con- 
vulsions. These  effects  may  also  be  produced  by 
diseased  and  decayed  vegetables. 

The  treatment  must  be  directed  to  the  removal 
of  the  injurious  substance  by  emetics,  <tc.,  unless 
spontaneous  vomiting  has  freely  taken  place,  when 
it  need  merely  be  encouraged  by  the  use  of  dilu- 
ents. If  the  irritant  has  passed  out  of  the  stomach 
into  the  intestines  it  must  be  carried  off  by  pur- 
gatives, especially  castor  oil.  The  inflammatory 
symptoms  should  be  cautiously  combated,  on  ac- 
count of  the  great  prostration  usually  caused  by 
these  poisons.  Opiates,  emollient  enemata,  and 
fomentations  to  the  abdomen  will  subsequently  be 
found  useful. 


SIMPLE    AKIMAL    IRRITANTS. 

The  substances  which  require  consideration 
under  this  head,  though  few,  are  important. 

Poisonous  Fish. — Several  kinds  of  fish  are  con- 
stantly poisonous,  while  some  only  act  injuriously 
on  particular  constitutions.  The  chief  effects  are 
sickness  and  vomiting,  irritation  of  the  eyes,  de- 
pression, and  severe  urticaria  or  nettle-rash.  In 
this  country  the  different  varieties  of  shell-fish  are 
those  most  frequently  injurious,  especially  cockles, 
mussels,  crabs  and  such-like. 

Poisonous  Meat. — The  flesh  of  animals  which 
have  died  of  disease  has  produced  serious  symp- 
toms when  eaten,  and  has  even  destroyed  life. 
Several  substances,  as  sausages,  cheese,  bacon,  &c., 
also  become  poisonous  from  putrefaction. 

The  treatment  in  these  instances  should  consist 
in  the  use  of  emetics,  purgatives,  and  diluents. 
The  vital  power  must  be  supported  by  stimulants, 
tonics,  nutritious  diet,  &c. 


IRRITANT    GASES.  59 

CHAPTER  XII. 

IRRITANT    GASES. 

The  chief  are  chlorine,  sulphurous-acid  gas,  ni- 
trous-acid gas,  and  hydrochloric-acid  gas.  When 
diluted,  they  admit  of  being  inhaled ;  not  so  when 
pure. 

Chlorine. — This  gas  has  a  greenish-yellow  color, 
and  a  powerful  suffocating  odor.  It  is  used  to 
fumigate  buildings,  being  a  valuable  disinfectant. 
Chlorine  is  employed  by  the  calico-printer  and 
paper-maker  for  its  bleaching  properties.  The 
men  who  work  in  an  atmosphere  slightly  impreg- 
nated with  it  suffer  from  dyspepsia,  but  are  long- 
lived,  and  it  has  been  supposed  to  be  actually 
beneficial  to  consumptives.  Any  attempt  to  in- 
spire chlorine  in  its  concentrated  state  would  at 
once  prove  fatal  by  closing  the  glottis  and  caus- 
ing asphyxia.  When  diluted  it  excites  excessive 
irritation  of  the  air-passages,  cough,  difficulty  of 
breathing,  and  inflammation. 

In  poisoning  by  chlorine,  the  inhalation  of  a 
small  quantity  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen  appeared 
to  afford  relief  in  a  case  reported  by  Christison, 
but  with  that,  or  any  other  of  the  irritant  gases, 
our  treatment  must  chiefly  consist  in  the  instant 
removal  of  the  sufferer  to  pure  air.  Then  the 
cautious  inhalation  of  ammonia,  sulphuric  ether, 
or  the  vapor  of  warm  water,  will  be  useful. 

Siilphufoiis  Acid  Gas  is  one  of  the  products 
formed  by  the  combustion  of  ordinary  coal.  It 
possesses  bleaching  and  antiseptic  properties;  and 
is  very  irritating  when  inspired. 

jMt?-ous  Acid  Gas  is  a  very  violent  poison  when 
inhaled,  producing  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  &c. 


60  SIMPLE    IRRITANTS. 

It  has  proved  fatal  in  several  instances,  when 
given  off  by  nitric  acid. 

Hijdrochloric  Acid  Gas  is  irrespirable  in  its  con- 
centrated state,  and  when  diluted  produces  great 
irritation  of  the  lungs  and  air-passages.  This  gas, 
which  is  a  waste  product  in  the  manufacture  of 
washing  soda,  is  the  chief  cause  of  the  barrenness 
which  surrounds  soda  works  where  it  is  allowed 
to  escape,  it  being  extremely  destructive  to  vege- 
table life. 

Ammonia. — It  has  been  already  noticed  (p.  48) 
that  the  vapor  of  ammonia  is  poisonous,  exciting 
inflammation  of  the  larynx,  bronchitis,  and  pneu- 
monia. Serious  symptoms  have  sometimes  arisen 
from  its  indiscriminate  application  in  cases  of 
syncope,  &c. 


III.-SPECIFIC  IRRITANT  POISONS. 


By  Specific  Irritant  Poisons  we  mean  those 
which,  taken  internally,  produce  local  inflamma- 
tion or  irritation,  these  being  of  course  indicated 
by  certain  constitutional  symptoms  ;  but  over  and 
above  these,  which  may  be  the  result  of  ordinary 
inflammation,  there  are  certain  specific  signs  of  the 
action  of  a  poison,  in  most  instances  peculiar,  and 
frequently  pointing  directly  to  the  poison  employ- 
ed. This  group  is  one  of  the  utmost  importance 
in  Toxicology,  and  includes  substances  acting  in 
many  different  ways,  all,  however,  giving  rise  to 
the  common  symptoms  of  gastric  irritation. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

SPECIFIC    MINERAL    IRRITANTS. 
IODINE    AND    IODIDE    OF    POTASSIUM. 

Iodine  is  obtained  from  kelp  (the  ash  of  marine 
plants)  and  is  a  bluish  black  scaly  substance.  It 
strikes  an  intense  blue  color  with  starch,  and 
when  heated  gives  off  an  irritating  purple  vapor. 
It  likewise  imparts  a  yellowish-brown  stain  to  the 
skin  (which  may  be  removed  by  liquor  potassoe) 
and  mucous  membranes,  and  slowly  corrodes  these 
tissues. 
5 


62  SPECIFIC    IRRITANT    POISONS. 

Iodine  is  an  active  poison,  although  its  effects 
are  variable.  Some  constitntions  are  violently- 
affected  by  tAvo  or  three  grains,  whereas  others 
are  uninjured  by  ten  or  twenty.  Iodine  is  com- 
monly employed  in  medicine  in  combination  with 
potassium  (iodide  of  potassium).  Of  this  sub- 
stance very  large  doses  may  be  given  (thirty  grains 
or  more,  three  times  a  day)  in  tertiary  syphilis, 
with  none  but  good  effect. 

The  symjjtoms  of  poisoning  by  iodine  consist  of 
an  acrid  taste,  tightness  about  the  throat,  epigas- 
tric pain,  vomiting,  and  purging,  especially  if  much 
has  been  taken.  In  a  case  which  came  under  ob- 
servation, a  man  took  an  ounce  of  the  compound 
tincture  of  iodine,  in  mistake  for  a  purgative 
draught.  He  was  immediately  seized  with  an  in- 
tense burning  pain  in  the  throat  and  epigastrium, 
and  vomiting,  followed  by  great  thirst,  headache, 
and  syncope.  The  vomiting  was  encouraged, 
large  qvxantities  of  arrowroot  given,  starch  ene- 
mata  administered,  and  in  twelve  hours  all  the 
symptoms  had  disappeared,  leaving  him  in  a  state 
of  exhaustion,  from  which  he  recovered  in  a  few 
days. 

In  chronic  poisoning  (iodism)  there  are  signs  of 
irritation  of  the  alimentary  canal,  often  a  measly 
eruption,  ptyalism,  running  from'the  nose  and  eyes, 
mental  and  bodily  depression,  and  loss  of  flesh. 
Nothing  leads  to  the  belief  that  it  causes  absorp- 
tion of  the  testicles  or  mammie,  as  is  often  as- 
serted. 

The  pos(-mo7-tem  appearances  would  be  those  due 
to  an  irritant  poison,  namely,  inflammation  and 
softening  of  the  stomach  :  the  mucous  membrane 
being  detached  in  different  parts,  and  stained  of  a 
yellow  color. 

The  treatment  should  consist  in  the  encourage- 


PHOSPHOROUS.  63 

ment  of  vomiting,  and  the  free  .administration  of 
am^iaceous  fluids,  as  gruel,  arrowroot,  boiled 
starch,  &:c.  This  should  be  continued  until  the 
matters  vomited  are  of  their  natural  color ;  for  as 
long  as  anv  iodine  remains  they  will  be  rendered 
blue,  iodide  of  starch  being  formed. 

The  crystals  of  iodide  of  jwtassium  are  white 
cubes,  very  soluble  in  water,  and  permanent  in 
the  air;  though  when  impure  they  have  a  yellow- 
ish tinge,  and  are  deliquescent.  In  a  few  instances 
this  valuable  medicine  appears  to  have  given  rise 
to  troublesome  symptoms,  even  when  administered 
in  small  doses.  Mr.  Erichsen  has  reported  a  re- 
markable case,  in  which  five  grains  produced 
coryza,  conjunctivitis,  difficulty  of  breathing,  and 
other  serious  effects,  promptly  ceasing  with  the 
discontinuance  of  the  medicine.  The  treatment 
must  consist  in  emptying  the  stomach  by  emetics 
or  the  stomach-pump,  and  administering  starchy 
diluents. 

Tests.  1.  Iodine  may  be  readily  detected  by  the 
blue  color  it  gives  to  starch. 

Iodide  of  potassium  gives  the  same  when  the 
iodine  is  set  free  by  an  acid,  such  as  sulphuric 
acid. 

2.  It  also  forms  a  scarlet  precipitate  with  per- 
ch loride  of  mecury  ;  and 

3.  It  gives  a  yellow  precipitate  with  acetate  of 
lead: 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

PHOSPHORUS. 


This  substance  is  sold  in  a  pure  state  in  small 
wax-like  cylinders,  which  must  be  preserved  under 


64  SPECIFIC    IRRITAXT    POISON'S. 

■water.  It  is  soluble  in  oil,  alcohol,  ether,  and 
chloroform,  and  still  more  so  in  carbon  disulphide  ; 
it  is  luminous  in  the  dark,  and  it  ignites  at  a  very 
low  temperature,  giving  off  a  dense  white  smoke. 
Phosphorus  is  much  more  frequently  used  as  a 
poison  abroad  than  in  England;  but  since  restric- 
tions have  been  put  on  the  sale  of  poisons,  and 
rat  poisons  containing  it  have  been  more  common, 
cases  of  poisoning  have  more  frequently  occurred, 
and  are  likely  to  do  so  even  oftener  in  future. 
The  cases  which  have  occurred  show  that  it  is  a 
very  powerful  irritant,  and  capable  of  causing 
death  when  taken,  even  in  small  doses.  One 
grain  has  caused  death  ;  the  shortest  period  in 
which  it  has  followed  the  administration  of  the 
poison  being  four  hours. 

The  phosphorous  paste  sold  consists  of  flour, 
sugar,  and  fat,  with  phosphorous,  ordinarily  color- 
ed with  Prussian  blue.  Coloring  matter  is  also 
generally  present  in  lucifer-match  tops,  which 
contain  phosphorus  and  chlorate  of  potash,  or 
nitre  ;  hence,  the  vomited  matters  after  either  of 
these  has  been  swallowed  may  be  variously  color- 
ed. In  the  so-called  •' safety  matches"  the  phos- 
phorus is  on  the  box  and  not  on  the  match.  Phos- 
phorus does  not  readily  lend  itself  to  the  purposes 
of  the  criminal,  its  luminosity,  its  taste,  and  its 
garlic  odor  rendering  it  difficult  of  concealment. 

The  symptoms  of  poisoning  by  phosphorus 'are 
very  varied,  often  insidious.  At  first  there  may  be 
merely  the  ordinary  signs  of  irrit^aut  poisoning. 
The  vomited  matters  are  luminous  in  the  dark, 
sometimes  bilious,,  sometimes  bloody.  There  is 
ver}'  great  prostration,  and  there  may  be  diarrhoea 
with  bloody  stools.  These  symptoms  sometimes 
abate,  and  everything  seems  going  on  well,  when 
suddenly    a    new    train    of  symptoms,  still   more 


piiospnoRus.  65 

serious,  develop  themselves.  These  are  such  as 
would  occur  in  the  worst  forms  of  blood  poison- 
ing: harsh,  dry,  yellow  skin,  with  discharges  of 
blood  from  the  various  passages,  and  the  forma- 
tion of  extravasations  below  the  skin.  The  urine 
is  ordinarily  retained  or  suppressed,  what  little 
there  is  being  albuminous  or  bile-stained.  Finally, 
acute  delirium  with  convulsions  sets  in  ;  the  pa- 
tient dies  comatose  a  few  hours  after  taking  the 
poison,  or  it  may  be  as  many  months. 

The  post-mortem  appearances  after  death  by  phos- 
phorus are  very  peculiar.  If  the  case  has  proved 
rapidly  fatal  there  will  be  the  ordinary  signs  of 
irritant  poisoning,  with,  in  addition,  softening  of 
the  stomach,  bloody  or  gangrenous  patches,  blood 
in  the  intestines  and  bladder,  and  bloody  serum 
in  the  peritoneal  cavity.  In  many  respects  the 
lesions  resemble  those  of  the  worst  forms  of  sea 
scurvy  ;  but  the  most  marked  changes  are  the  re- 
markable fatty  degeneration  of  the  liver,  kidneys, 
heart  and  other  muscles,  especially  of  the  first, 
which  is  often  greatly  atrophied. 

The  diagnosis  will  depend  on  the  peculiar  odor 
of  garlic  exhaled  by  the  patient  and  the  luminosity 
of  the  vomited  matters,  in  addition  to  the  other 
signs  referred  to. 

Treatment. — There  is  no  regular  antidote  for 
phosphorus ;  early  evacuation  by  the  stomach- 
pump  and  the  free  promotion  of  vomiting  are  the 
main  points.  Magnesia  or  its  carbonate  should  be 
given  freely  in  mucilaginous  fluids.  Oils  had 
better  be  avoided,  except  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
moving all  traces  of  the  poison  by  the  stomach- 
pump.     Prompt  treatment  is  all  in  all. 

Detection. — There  is  but  one  really  satisfactory 
plan  for  detecting  phosphorus  in  organic  mixtures, 
that   invented   by   Mitscherlich.     The    suspected 


66  SPECIFIC    IRRITANT    POISOXS. 

material  is  introduced  into  a  retort,  and  acidulated 
with  sulphuric  acid.  The  stem  of  the  retort  is 
conducted  into  a  glass  vessel  kept  cool  by  a 
stream  of  water  on  the  outside.  The  retort  is 
heated,  and  distillation  allowed  to  go  on  in  the 
dark.  If  phosphorus  be  present  it  passes  over  as 
vapor,  and  is  condensed  in  the  cool  vessel  beyond. 
At  each  condensation  a  flash  of  light  is  perceived, 
which  is  the  test  relied  on. 

Chronic  Poiso.mxg  by  phosphorus  used  to  be 
exceedingly  common  among  match  manufacturers, 
but  is  now,  comparatively  speaking,  rare,  allo- 
tropic  or  amorphous  phosphorus  being  much  more 
generally  employed  than  it  used  to  be,  and  the 
ventilation  of  the  workshops  being  better.  Its 
subjects  used  to  be  attacked  with  caries  of  the 
gums,  gradually  extending  and  implicating  the 
jaw,  and  giving  rise  to  great  deformity. 


CHAPTER  XV 


Arsexic  is  by  far  the  most  important  of  metallic 
poisons,  whether  we  consider  the  deadliness  of  its 
effects  or  the  fatal  frequency  with  which  they  are 
made  manifest.  Arsenic  exists  as  an  impurity  in 
several  metallic  ores,  notably  in  iron  pyrites, 
which  being  commonly  employed  as  a  material 
for  the  manufacture  of  sulphuric  acid,  renders 
arsenic  one  of  the  most  frequent  impurities  of 
commercial  oil  of  vitriol.  This  should  never  be 
forgotten  in  testing  any  substance  for  the  poison. 
To  the  common  medicinal  preparation  of  arsenic, 


ARSENIC.  67 

consisting  of  arsenious  acid,  or  arsenates,  and  the  so- 
called  chloride  of  arsenic,  must  be  added  the  arsen- 
iates  of  potash  and  soda  ;  the  sulphides  of  arsenic — 
as,  the  red  sulphide,  or  realgar,  and  the  yelloxo  sul- 
phide, or  orpiment ;  the  arsodte  of  copper,  or  ScheeWs 
green,  and  others.  They  all  produce  similar  symp- 
toms, and  poisoning  by  either  of  them  requires 
nearly  the  same  treatment. 

According  to  Von  Tschudi,  some  of  the  peasants 
in  parts  of  Styria  and  Hungary  eat  arsenic,  taking 
from  two  to  five  grains  daily;  the  men  doing  so  in 
order  t'.iat  they  may  gain  strength,  and  be  able  to 
endure  fatigue,  the  women  that  they  may  improve 
their  complexions.  These  statements  are  so  con- 
trary to  all  that  we  know  of  the  power  of  this 
poison,  that  they  have  been  regarded  as  unworthy 
of  credit.  Evidence  has,  however,  been  brought 
forward  by  Dr.  Craig  Maclagan,  of  Edinburgh, 
which  shows  clearly  that  arsenic-eating  is  some- 
thing more  than  a  mere  fiction.  This  gentleman 
gave,  and  saw  a  Styrian  eat,  a  piece  of  arsenious 
acid,  weighing  over  four  grains,  and  afterwards 
determined  the  presence  of  arsenic  in  urine  passed 
in  his  presence  hj  the  said  peasant.  Advantage 
was  taken  of  these  reports  in  the  trial  of  Miss 
Madeline  Smith  (Edinburgh,  July,  1857),  when  the 
court  was  asked  to  believe  that  arsenic  found  in 
the  possession  of  the  prisoner  was  used  by  her  as 
a  cosmetic. 

Arsenite  of  Copper,  in  one  form  or  another,  either 
as  Scheele's  green,  emerald  green,  Brunswick 
green,  &c.,  is  unfortunately  largely  employed  in 
the  manufacture  of  green  paper-hangings,  artificial 
flowers,  toys,  and  even  some  kinds  of  confection- 
ery. Too  many  cases  of  ill-health  caused  by  this 
practice  have  been  recorded  to  permit  any  doubt 
as  to   its  deleterious  effects.     These  may  be  mani- 


68  SPECIFIC    IRRITAXT    POISONS. 

fested  by  people  living  in  rooms  furnished  ivith 
such  paper-hangings.  The  chief  symptoms  are, 
sneezing,  lachrymation,  frontal  headache,  nausea, 
and  loss  of  appetite,  with  colicky  pains,  thirst,  &c. 
Among  those  employed  in  preparing  the  paper- 
hangings  more  serious  symptoms  manifest  them- 
selves. The  irritation  of  the  pigment  gives  rise  to 
circular  patches  of  ulceration  on  the  9.\se  of  the 
nose,  in  the  folds  of  the  arm,  in  the  groin  and 
scrotum — in  short,  wherever  dirt  tends  to  lodge. 
These  prove  very  untractable,  except  the  employ- 
ment be  abandoned,  In  November,  1861,  a  young 
woman  died  in  London  from  the  poisonous  effects 
of  arsenite  of  copper  used  in  dusting  wax  leaves. 
The  workmen  who  employ  the  pigment  in  its  dry 
state  suffer,  while  those  who  use  it  in  a  moist  con- 
dition are  probably  unaffected  by  it.  A  simple 
method  for  roughly  detecting  arsenite  of  copper  in 
these  fabrics  was  published  in  the  Chemical  Xeics 
(vol.  1,  p.  12),  A  small  portion  of  the  suspected 
material  is  to  be  put  into  a  test  tube  with  strong 
ammonia.  If  a  blue  tint  be  produced,  a  salt  of 
copper  is  shown  to  be  present.  "Withdraw  the  ob- 
ject, and  drop  a  piece  of  nitrate  of  silver  into  the 
ammonia  ;  if  arsenic  be  there,  the  nitrate  of  silver 
will  be  covered  with  a  yellow  coating  of  arseniate 
of  silver,  which  will  disappear  on  stirring.  On 
igniting  arsenical  paper  and  allowing  it  to  smoul- 
der, the  odor  of  garlic  may  be  detected  in  the 
fumes  given  off.  Another  mode  in  which  the 
noxious  effects  of  arsenic  are  produced  is  by  the 
use  of  bright  green  tarlatans  as  ball  dresses. 
One  could  hardly  conceive  a  more  deadly  amuse- 
ment than  dancing  in  an  arsenicated  dress,  sweep- 
ing against  an  arsenicated  wall-paper.  When 
both  are  lightly  adherent  the  arsenic  is  scattered 
in  showers  about  the  room. 


ARSENIC.  69 

Arsenious  Acid  (  White  Oxide  of  Arsenic^  White 
Arsenic^  Arsenic). — This  is  the  preparation  of  ar- 
senic most  frequently  used  as  a  poison  ;  the  facility 
-with  Avhich  it  nsed  to  be  procured^  its  cheapness 
(twopence  an  ounce),  and  the  ease  with  which  it 
may  be  administered,  all  tended  to  recommend  it 
to  the  murderer  or  suicide.  According  to  a  par- 
liamentary report,  the  number  of  fatal  cases  of 
poisoning  in  England  in  the  years  183T,  1838, 
amounted  to  543,  of  which  no  less  than  186  were 
caused  by  arsenic.  185  arising  from  the  use  of  the 
arsenious  acid,  and  1  from  orpiment  or  yellow  ar- 
senic. 

Since  the  Act  of  1851  (14  Vict.  cap.  xiii.)  the 
deaths  from  this  agent  have  greatly  decreased. 
This  statute  chiefly  enacts  that  arsenic  is  not  to  be 
sold  without  the  seller  entering  the  transaction  ia 
a  proper  book,  without  a*vvitness,  nor  without  its 
being  mixed  with  soot  or  indigo,  unless  such  ad- 
mixture would  render  it  unfit  for  the  purchaser's 
business. 

Arsenious  acid  is  found  in  commerce  in  the  form 
of  a  white  powder  or  in  small  opaque  cakes.  It  is 
very  feebly  acid,  tasteless,  or  slightly  sweet  in  small 
doses,  though  not  very  soluble,  an  ounce  of  cold 
water  dissolving  about  one  grain.  The  quantity  so 
held  in  solution  may,  however,  be  increased  by 
dissolving  the  arsenic  in  boiling  water  and  allow- 
ing it  to  cool.  The  shortest  period  within  which 
it  was  believed  arsenic  would  cause  death  was  two 
hours  ;  but  Dr.  Taylor  gives  a  case  where  death 
with  tetanic  symptoms  followed  the  fatal  dose  in 
twenty  minutes.  The  smallest  quantity  known  to 
have  proved  fatal  is  two  grains.  Two  grains  and 
a  half  killed  a  girl  nineteen  years  of  age  in  thirty- 
six  hours.     Half  a  grain  will   produce   alarming 


70  SPECIFIC    IRRITANT    POISONS. 

symptoms  :  and  yet  recovery  has  ensued  after  doses 
of  half  an  ounce  or  an  ounce. 

S}/nij)(oms. — These  commence  within  half  an 
hour  or  an  hour  of  swallowing  the  poison.  There 
is  faintness,  nausea,  incessant  vomiting,  and  a 
burning  pain  in  the  epigastrium,  increased  on 
pressure,  and  gradually  extending  over  the  whole 
abdomen,  followed  by  headache,  diarrhoea,  a  sense 
of  constriction  and  heat  in  the  fauces  and  throat, 
great  thirst,  and  catching,  painful  respiration.  The 
hearts  action  becomes  depressed,  the  pulse  is  quick 
and  feeble  ;  there  is  great  restlessness  and  anxiety ; 
cold,  clammy  skin,  and  perhaps  coma  are  present ; 
and  death  usually  occurs  within  twenty-four 
hours. 

These  symptoms  are  liable  to  great  varietv,  the 
pain  and  vomiting  being  occasionally  absent,  and 
the  patient  being  atfecte^  as  if  by  a  narcotic  poison. 
In  some  instances  there  is  troublesome  tenesmus, 
with  heat  and  excoriation  about  the  anus.  Con- 
vulsive movements  in  the  extremities  often  occur, 
with  cramp  in  the  legs,  especially  if  the  diarrhcea 
is  severe.  Death  sometimes  takes  place  calmly 
from  collapse,  sometimes  it  follows  on  convul- 
sions. 

The  vomited  matters  may  be  red  or  brown  from 
admixture  with  blood  or  bile  ;  or  they  may  be  blue 
or  black,  if  the  arsenic  has  been  colored  with 
indigo  or  soot.  Although  the  vomiting,  pain,  &c., 
are  generally  continous,  yet  sometimes  all  the 
symptoms  remit,  and  the  patient  rallies  for  a  time, 
only  to  sink  more  rapidly. 

The  symptoms  of  chronic  poisoning  by  arsenic 
are  loss  of  appetite,  a  silvery  coating  to  the  tongue, 
thirst,  nausea,  colicky  pains,  diarrhoea,  frontal 
headache,  langor.  sleeplessness,  cutaneous  erup- 
tions, soreness  of  the  edges  of  the  eyelids,  emacia- 


ARSEXIC.  71 

tion,  anaemia,  convulsions,  and  death.  In  some 
cases,  when  small  doses  have  been  administered 
for  many  days  in  succession,  with  the  intent  to 
destroy  lite,  the  symptoms  have  been  masked  by 
other  substances.  The  most  marked  results  of 
this  practice  have  been  sickness  and  vomiting,  pain 
in  the  boAvels,  nervous  irritability,  and  emaciation. 
The  practitioner  must  be  careful  not  to  mistake 
these  symptoms  for  those  due  to  simple  gastritis 
or  enteritis. 

Arsenic  is  not  a  poison  that  accmulates  in  the 
system,  but  is  slowly  eliminated  from  it  especially 
by  the  kidneys,  but  partly  also  by  the  bile. 

The  local  application  of  arsenic  to  the  mucous 
membranes,  to  wounds,  or  to  surfaces  deprived  of 
their  cuticle,  produces  constitutional  effects  similar 
to  those  just  described.  The  only  difference  is 
that  the  symptoms  show  themselves  more  slowly. 
Not  a  few  lives  have  been  sacrificed  from  the 
application  by  ignorant  quacks  of  a  mixture  of 
arsenious  acid,  realgar,  and  oxide  of  iron  to 
ulcerating  cancers. 

Cases  of  compound  poisoning  have  been  met 
with.  When  arsenic  is  taken  mixed  with  opium, 
the  symptoms  produced  by  the  former  are  masked. 

Post-mortem  Appearances. — Arsenic  appears  to 
exercise  a  specific  influence  over  the  alimentary 
canal,  and  more  especially  over  the  stomach ;  for 
in  whatever  manner  it  may  have  been  introduced 
into  the  system,  it  is  to  tiiis  organ  that  we  must 
look  for  its  effects.  These  effects  consist  in  the 
signs  of  acute  inflammation  commencing  in  this 
viscus,  and  often  extending  along  the  duodenum, 
small  intestines,  and  colon.  In  acute  cases  the 
stomach  is  the  viscus  most  affected ;  but  in  chronic 
cases  the  whole  alimentary  canal  is  found  inflam- 
ed and  ulcerated,  particularly  the  duodenum  and 


72  SPECIFIC    IRRITAXT    POISONS. 

rectum.  When  death  has  occurred  within  five 
hours  of  taking  the  poison,  the  stomach  has  been 
found  intensely  inflamed  in  an  adult :  while  the 
same  result  was  witnessed  in  a  child  who  died  at 
the  end  of  two  hours.  The  stomach  often  contains 
a  dark  grumous  fluid,  occasionally  tinged  with 
blood.  On  removing  the  contents  the  mucous 
membrane  is  seen  red  and  inflamed,  the  inflam- 
mation being  most  intense  around  certain  spots. 
On  examining  these  spots,  particles  of  arsenic  will 
probably  be  found  adhering  to  the  walls  of  the 
stomach  and  surrounded  by  a  zone  of  inflamma- 
tory redness.  Sometimes  also  blood  is  effused 
into  the  visceral  walls,  giving  rise  to  an  appear- 
ance resembling  gangrene.  Ulceration  of  any  of 
the  coats  of  the  stomach  is  rare,  and  perforation  is 
still  more  so. 

In  a  few  exceptional  cases  there  has  been  no 
appearance  of  inflammation  in  the  stomach  or 
bowels. 

Putrefaction  of  the  body  is  said  to  be  remark- 
ably retarded  after  death  from  arsenic. 

Treatment. — The  first  object  must  be  to  expel 
the  poison  from  the  stomach,  for  which  purpose 
the  stomach-pump  may  be  advantageously  em- 
ployed, or  emetics  of  sulphate  of  zinc,  mustard,  or 
ipecacuan  administered,  unless  vomiting  is  already 
present.  The  sickness  must  be  promoted  by  the 
free  use  of  albuminous  or  mucilaginous  diluents. 
Raw  eggs  beaten  up  in  milk  are  particularly  use- 
ful, as  is  likewise  a  mixture  of  albumen,  milk, 
and  limewater.  Taylor  advises  equal  parts  of  oil 
and  limewater,  for  the  oil  invests  the  poison,  and 
the  lime  renders  it  less  soluble.  A  large  dose  of 
castor  oil  (5J  to  5ij)  may  be  given,  to  carry  off  any 
of  the  poison  which  may  have  passed  into  the  in- 
testines, as  soon  as  sickness  has  subsided.    Animal 


ARSENIC.  73 

charcoal,  calcined  magnesia,  &c,,  when  taken  in 
large  quantities,  may  be  of  service  by  enveloping 
the  arsenic,  and  preventing  its  contact  with  the 
mucous  membrance  of  the  stomach  ;  but  oil  or 
milk  will  act  more  efficiently  in  this  manner.  The 
hydrated  peroxide  of  iron"^  should  be  administered 
moist,  and  in  large  doses,  after  the  stomach-pump 
has  been  used  ;  or  indeed,  mixed  with  water,  it 
may  be  first  introduced  and  then  expelled,  thus 
washing  out  the  stomach  by  means  of  the  stomach- 
pump.     This  is  the  most  efficient  antidote  known. 

The  subsequent  treatment  must  be  conducted  on 
general  principles,  according  to  the  severity  of  the 
symptoms  ;  but  the  great  depression  of  the  nerv- 
ous and  vascular  systems  must  not  be  overlooked 
in  combating  any  inflammatory  action.  Henbane 
or  opium,  in  many  instances  combined  with  stim- 
ulants, ice  internally,  and  hot  fomentations  ex- 
ternally, will  frequently  be  found  of  great  service. 

Tests.— In  its  solid  state  arsenious  acid  may  be 
known  by  the  following  properties.  Heated  on 
platinum  foil  or  on  the  point  of  a  penknife,  it  pro- 
duces a  white  smoke  and  is  entirely  volatilized. 
If  some  of  the  powder  be  heated  in  a  small  test  tube, 
it  will  be  sublimed,  and  small  octahedral  crystals, 
visible  to  the  naked  eye  or  by  a  lens,  obtained. 
If  arsenious  acid  be  mixed  with  freshly-burnt  pow- 
dered charcoal,  and  heated  in  a  small  test  tube,  a 
ring  of  shining  metallic  arsenic  of  a  grey  color 
will  be  found  on  the  cool  portion  of  the  tube,  and 

*  If  not  kept  prepared,  the  remedy  may  be  speedily  got  ready 
in  any  chemist's  shop  in  the  following  way:  Mix  together  the 
contents  of  the  bottles  containing  tincture  of  the  muriate  of  iron 
(the  liquor  fcrri  perohloridi  does  as  well)  and  liquor  ammoniae 
fortior.  Run  the  mixture  through  a  loose  filter,  saving  the  pre- 
cipitate ;  turn  filtering  paper  or  tow,  if  that  has  been  used,  and 
all  into  a  vessel  containing  water,  agitate  well,  and  use  the  pre- 
cipitate by  spoonfuls  as  it  falls  to  the  bottom. 


74  SPECIFIC    IRRITANT    POISONS. 

an  odor  of  garlic  is  perceptible.  If  this  deposit 
be  driven  about  from  place  to  place  it  will  gradu- 
ally become  oxydized,  and  octahedral  crystals 
ofarsenious  acid  formed.  Further,  if  the  tube  be 
divided  and  the  part  containing  the  arsenious  acid 
be  washed  out  with  distilled  water,  the  liquid  tests 
may  be  applied  to  the  solution.  This  is  called 
the  Reduction  test.  It  is  very  delicate,  detecting 
according  to  Christison,  the  300th  part  of  a  grain. 

In  solution,  this  substance  may  be  detected  by 
■what  are  called  the  liquid  tests.  A  solution  of 
arsenic  in  water  is  colorless,  almost  tasteless,  and 
has  a  very  slightly  acid  reaction.  If  a  few  drops 
be  evaporated  on  a  glass  slide  and  examined  by 
the  microscope,  numerous  minute  and  mostly  im- 
perfect octahedral  crystals,  or  an  amorphous 
deposit,  will  be  seen,  j^resenting  triangular  surfaces 
b}^  reflected  light. 

i.  The  ammonio-nitrate  of  silver  (prepared  by 
adding  a  few  drops  of  liquor  ammonia?  to  a  solution 
of  nitrate  of  silver,  till  the  brown  oxide  of  silver  at 
first  precipitated  is  nearlj'  redissolved)  throws 
down  with  arsenious  acid  a  rich  yellow  deposit  of 
arsenite  of  silver. 

2.  The  ammonio-sulphate  of  copper  (formed  by 
adding  liquor  ammonite  to  a  solution  of  sulphate 
of  copper  till  the  bluish-white  oxide  of  copper  is 
almost  redissolved)  produces  a  pale  green  pre- 
cipitate, arsenite  of  copper,  or  Scheele's  green. 
Care  must  be  taken  not  to  add  too  much  of  the  test 
in  the  first  instance,  otherwise  its  blue  may  over- 
power the  green  of  the  precipitate. 

3.  Sulphuretted  hydrogen  water  precipitates  a 
yellow  deposit  of  sulphide  of  arsenic.  It  is  better, 
however,  to  use  pure  and  well-washed  sulphu- 
retted hydrogen  generated  in  tlie  usual  manner. 
Care  must  be  taken  that  the  liquid  is  not  alkaline, 


or  no  precipitate  will  be  produced,  even  though 
arsenic  be  present.  For  this  reason  yellow  sul- 
phide of  ammonium  will  not  precipitate  arsenic  un- 
til acidulated  with  pure  hydrochloric  or  some  such 
acid.  The  precipitate  should  be  collected,  care- 
fully washed,  and  dried.  It  should  then  be  mixed 
with  black  flux  or  dry  ferrocyanide  of  potassium 
and  reduced,  as  already  described. 

These  tests  are  so  delicate,  especially  the  first, 
that  they  will  detect  the  8000th  part  of  a  grain  of 
arsenic  in  solution ;  they  should  be  employed 
successively.  There  are  several  other  processes 
which  require  to  be  noticed,  mamely.  Marsh's  pro- 
cess, the  process  known  as  Reinsch's  process, 
Fresenius's  process,  and  the  Destination  process. 

3Ia)-sh's  Test  or  Process. —  This  process  is  founded 
on  the  decomposition  of  arsenious  acid  by  nascent 
hydrogen,  and  the  formation  of  arsenuretted  hydro- 
gen gas,  which  possesses  the  following  properties: 
It  burns  with  a  bluish-white  flame,  and  white 
smoke  (arsenious  acid),  possessing  a  slight  garlic 
odor.  If  a  piece  of  glass  or  porcelain  be  held  in 
the  flame  a  blackish  metallic  stain  will  be  deposit- 
ed upon  it,  consisting  of  metallic  arsenic.  This 
stain  might  be  confounded  with  one  produced  by 
antimony  under  similar  circumstances.  But  the 
antimonuretted  hydrogen  gas  does  not  burn  with 
the  odor  of  the  arsenuretted  hydrogen  ;  while 
the  antiraonial  stain  is  sooty,  and  has  not  a  metal- 
lic lustre.  The  arsenical  stain  is  further  readily 
dissolved  by  a  solution  of  chloride  of  lime  (bleach- 
ing powder),  whilst  the  antimonial  stain  is  not 
affected.  To  the  stain  may  be  added  a  few  drops 
of  strong  nitric  acid  ;  it  will  dissolve  the  arsenic  ; 
if  this  be  allowed  to  evaporate,  and  the  acid  be 
neutralized,  a  few  drops  of  nitrate  of  silver  solution 


76  SPECIFIC    IRRITANT    POISONS. 

will  give  a  brick-red  precipitate  of  arseniate  of 
silver. 

Marsh's  test  is  thus  accomplished:  a  flask  fur- 
nished with  a  cork  through  which  pass  a  funnel 
and  a  long  bent  tube  drawn  to  a  point,  is  prepared 
so  that  the  funnel  reaches  almost  to  its  bottom. 
Several  pieces  of  pure  zinc  are  introduced,  and 
then  some  sulphuric  acid  is  poured  through  the 
funnel.  In  this  way  hydrogen  gas  is  produced 
and  escapes  by  the  bent  tube.  When  all  the  air 
has  been  expelled  the  gas  should  be  ignited  as  it 
escapes,  and  a  piece  of  cool  porcelain  held  over 
the  flame.  If  there  be  no  deposit  it  is  plain  that 
neither  the  zinc  nor  the  sulphuric  acid  contains 
arsenic.  A  portion  of  the  suspected  fluid  is  next 
introduced  into  the  flask  by  the  funnel,  and  the 
issuing  gas  again  tested.  Should  a  stain  giving 
the  characters  alluded  to  above  be  produced,  the 
fluid  contains  arsenic  in  some  form  or  other, 

Reinsch's  Process. — The  suspected  liquid  is  boiled 
with  from  one-sixth  to  one-eighth  of  its  bulk  of 
pure  hydrochloric  acid,  and  a  bright  slip  of  cop- 
per introduced.  If  arsenic  be  present  the  copper 
will  be  coated  with  it  in  the  form  of  an  iron-grey 
deposit.  Next  after  removing  the  copper,  wash- 
ing it  with  distilled  water,  and  drying  it  betweea 
folds  of  blotting  paper,  cut  it  into  slips,  and  in- 
troduce it  into  a  reduction-tube  and  apply  heat  ; 
arsenious  acid  will  be  sublimed  and  deposited  on 
the  sides  of  the  tube,  in  the  form  of  minute  octa- 
hedral crystals.  These  may  be  dissolved  in  water 
and  tested  in  the  usual  way.  Before  resorting  to 
this  test,  the  acid  must  be  examined  to  make  sure 
of  its  purity.  This  is  easily  eff"ectcd  by  boiling 
the  copper  with  a  mixture  of  the  hydrochloric  acid 
and  distilled  Avater  before  adding  the  suspected 
liquid.     In  conducting  the  analysis  in  the  case  of 


ARSENIC,  77 

Smethurst  (Cent.  Crira.  Court,  Aug.  1859)  Taylor 
and  Odling  found  that  all  the  varieties  of  copper 
in  common  use  for  Reinsch's  process  contained 
arsenic.  A  copper  of  ascertained  purity  must 
therefore  be  used. 

Arsenic  in  Organic  Matters. — The  following  pro- 
cess, which  has  been  introduced  by  Dr.  Taylor,  is 
a  very  convenient  one.  The  suspected  matters 
are  to  be  thoroughly  dried  in  a  water-bath  or 
otherwise,  taking  care  not  to  use  too  great  a  heat. 
They  are  then  to  be  introduced  into  a  flask  fitted 
with  a  long  bent  tube  ;  to  the  dried  material  is  to 
be  added  a  quantity  of  strong  hydrochloric  acid, 
proved  free  from  arsenic,  suflicient  to  drench  it, 
and  the  whole  allowed  to  digest  for  some  hours. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  heat  is  to  be  applied  to  the 
flask  by  means  of  a  sand-bath,  and  a  receiver  fit- 
ted to  the  bent  tube.  The  receiver  should  contain 
a  little  water,  and  both  it  and  the  bent  tube 
should  be  kept  cool.  As  distillation  goes  on  the 
arsenic  passes  over  in  the  form  of  chloride  of  ar- 
senic, and  is  collected  in  the  receiver  beyond.  A 
second  portion  of  hydrochloric  acid  may  be  used 
to  remove  any  last  traces  of  arsenic  in  the  organic 
material.  The  arsenic  may  be  recovered  from  the 
chloride  by  boiling  with  pure  polished  copper,  as 
in  Reinsch's  process. 

The  process  of  Fresenius  and  Von  Babo  given  at 
page  31  is  especially  adapted  for  the  recovery  of 
arsenic  from  organic  admixture. 

Several  cases  of  poisoning  by  arsenuretted  hy- 
drogen are  on  record,  some  proving  fatal. 


78  SPECIFIC    IRRITANT    POISON'S. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

AXTIMOXIAL     COMPOUNDS. 

In  its  metallic  state  antimony  is  not  regarded  as 
poisonous.  Two  of  its  preparations,  however, 
claim  attention  ;  namel}*,  tartar  emetic,  and  chlo- 
ride of  antimony. 

Tartar  Emetic  {Tartrated  or  Tartarised  Anti- 
mony. Potassio-Tartrate  of  An(i)no?ii/,  Tartar  Emetic). 
— Since  the  trials  of  Palmer,  Dove,  Smethurst, 
and  Pritchard,  poisoning  by  this  compound  has  at- 
tracted much  attention.  In  large  doses  it  has  been 
administered  without  any  serious  result,  a  circum- 
stance which  may  be  accounted  for  hy  the 
promptitude  with  which  it  excites  vomiting  and 
purging.  Given  in  small  doses,  frequently  re- 
peated, the  effects  of  tartar  emetic  may  be  made  to 
simulate,  in  some  degree,  those  due  to  natural 
disease. 

Three  quarters  of  a  grain  killed  a  child:  and  a 
dose  of  two  grains  has  destroyed  an  adult,  under 
circumstances  which  favored  its  action.  Dr.  Tay- 
lor says  that  from  ten  t©  twenty  grains  taken  at 
once  might  prove  fatal  to  an  adult ;  while  in 
divided  doses  a  smaller  quantity  might  suffice.  It 
is  plain,  therefore,  that  the  quantity  necessary  to 
cause  death  must  vary  with  the  condition  of  the 
patient. 

Symptoms. — In  acute  poisoning  by  this  agent 
there  is  a  metallic  taste,  nausea,  and  violent  vomit- 
ing, burning  heat  with  pain  in  the  stomach,  and 
purging.  Difficulty  in  swallowing,  thirst,  cramps, 
cold  perspiration,  and  great  debility  soon  set  in. 
Should  the  case  terminate  fatally,  death  may  be 
preceded  by  giddiness,  insensibility,  difficult  res- 


ANTIMOXIAL    COMPOUNDS.  79 

piration,  utter  prostration,  "with  violent  spasms, 
tonic  or  clonic ;  but  even  when  matters  appear  to 
be  most  critical,  symptoms  of  improvement  are 
often  manifested,  and  recovery  gradually  follows. 

The  effects  of  chronic  poisoning  are,  constant 
nausea,  frequent  attacks  of  vomiting  and  purging, 
a  loathing  for  food,  a  weak  frequent  pulse,  loss  of 
muscular  power,  cold  clammy  sweats  and  fatal  ex- 
haustion. The  symptoms  are  of  course  agg:ravated 
after  each  administration  of  the  poison,  whether 
given  in  food  or  medicine. 

Tartar  emetic  ointment  applied  to  the  skin  pro- 
duces a  pustular  eruption  like  that  of  smallpox; 
while,  if  much  be  absorbed,  there  will  be  nausea, 
sickness,  &c.  Sometimes  this  same  eruption  ap- 
pears in  the  throat  and  on  the  skin  after  swallow- 
ing a  large  dose. 

Post-mortem  Appearances. — The  most  common  are 
inflammation  of  the  throat,  stomach,  and  intestines. 
Sometimes  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  stomach 
is  softened  and  infiltrated  with  blood.  The  coecum 
and  large  intestine  are  also  inflamed,  especially  if 
life  has  been  prolonged  after  the  dose,  as  in  chronic 
poisoning.  The  brain  and  lungs  have  been  found 
congested. 

Treatment. — Vomiting  should  be  encouraged  by 
warm  greasy  water,  milk,  &c.  Liquids  containing 
tannin,  as  tea  without  milk  or  sugar,  decoction  of 
oak  bark,  &c.,  must  be  freely  given.  Cinchona 
bark  in  tincture  or  powder  may  be  advantageously 
prescribed.  Afterwards  opiates  may  be  adminis- 
tered. 

Tests. — Tartar  emetic  is  soluble  in  water  but  not 
in  alcohol. 

In  solution  tartar  emetic  may  be  thus  detected  : 

1.  A  drop  evaporated    on   a  glass    slide  leaves 


80  SPECIFIC    IRRITAXT    POISONS. 

microscopic  crystals,  either  tetrahedra  or  cubes, 
with  the  edges  bevelled  off. 

2.  The  solution  may  further  be  proved  to  con- 
tain antimony  by  passing  through  it  sulphuretted 
hydrogen  or  adding  to  it  sulphide  of  ammonium, 
either  of  which  throws  down  an  orange-red  pre- 
cipitate of  sulphide  of  antimony.  This  precipitate 
is  soluble  in  strong  hydrochloric  acid,  which  being 
diluted,  throws  down  a  white  precipitate. 

3.  The  three  dilute  mineral  acids  (nitric  is  best) 
throw  down  a  white  precipitate  with  tartar  emetic, 
which  is  soluble  in  excess  of  the  acid  used  or  in 
tartaric  acid. 

The  metal  may  be  separated  from  organic  sub- 
stances by  Marsh's  or  Reinschs  process. 

Chloride  of  Antimony  [Terchloride  ov  Butter  of 
Antimony)  is  a  powerfully  corrosive  liquid.  It 
produces  violent  inflammation  and  corrosion  of  the 
whole  intestinal  canal;  occasionally  also  drowsi- 
ness, as  from  the  use  of  a  narcotic. 

Dr.  Taylor  has  collected  the  histories  of  four 
cases  of  poisoning  by  butter  of  antimony,  three  of 
which  recovered.  The  fourth,  in  which  a  gentleman 
took  from  two  to  three  ounces,  proved  fatal  in  ten 
hours  and  a  half,  after  producing  great  prostra- 
tion, nausea,  violent  griping  pain,  and  tenesmus, 
followed  by  a  tendency  to  sleep.  On  inspection, 
the  whole  of  the  inside  of  the  alimentary  canal 
was  blackened,  as  if  it  had  been  charred;  there 
was  but  little  mucous  membrane  remaining,  and 
the  parts  were  much  softened. 

Treatment. — Magnesia  must  be  administered  in 
milk,  together  with  the  remedies  recommended  in 
poisoni^  by  tartar  emetic. 


MERCURY    AND    ITS    COMPOUNDS.  81 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

MERCURY    AND    ITS    COMPOUNDS. 

Of  the  preparations  of  mercury,  corrosive  sub- 
limate is  the  most  important  to  the  toxicologist ; 
for  although  they  all  possess  in  a  greater  or  less 
degree  poisonous  properties,  yet  the  instances  in 
which  the  other  compounds  have  been  used  to 
destroy  life  are  extremely  rare.  The  treatment  in 
all  cases  must  be  the  same.  It  is  worthy  of  re- 
mark that  mercury,  whilst  in  the  metallic  state,  is 
destitute  of  injurious  properties,  but  if  oxidized  or 
otherwise  rendered  fit  for  absorption,  it  may  give 
rise  to  dangerous  symptoms.  Thus,  workers  in 
mercurial  mines  suffer  much,  as  did  those  wlio 
were  employed  in  silvering  looking-glasses  by  the 
old  process.  Large  doses  (from  half  a  pound  to 
two  pounds)  have  been  given  in  obstinate  cases  of 
constipation,  intussusception,  &c.,  without  any 
remarkable  effect. 

Corrosive  Sublimate  [Oxymiiriate  of  3Iemiry, 
Chloride  of  Mercury,  Bichloride  of  Mercury). — This 
preparation  of  Mercury,  which,  more  strictly 
speaking,  belongs,  like  the  chlorides  of  zinc  and 
antimony,  to  the  class  Corrosives,  is  usually  met 
with  in  the  form  of  imperfect  crystalline  masses, 
or  as  a  white  powder.  It  has  an  acrid,  coppery 
taste,  so  powerful  that  but  little  could  be  swal- 
lowed without  the  individual  becoming  aware  of 
it.  It  is  very  soluble  in  water.  Three  grains  is 
the  smallest  quantity  that  has  been  kcown  to 
prove  fatal ;  and  from  this  to  five  grains  ym^y  pro- 
bably be  stated  as  the  average  dose  nec^sary  to 
to  destroy  life.  Recovery  has  taken  place  after  as 
much    as    eighty   grains    had    been    swallowed. 


82  SPECIFIC    IRRITANT    POISONS. 

Death  has  occurred  in  less  than  half  an  hour  ; 
while,  in  some  instances,  life  has  been  maintained 
until  the  sixth  day,  and  in  one  instance  (where 
between  three  and  four  scruples  had  been  swal- 
lowed) until  the  twelfth  day.  It  is  probable  that 
the  average  duration  of  fatal  cases  is  from  twenty- 
four  to  thirty-six  hours. 

Si/mptoms. — In  the  majority  of  cases  the  symp- 
toms commence  immediately,  with  an  acrid  metal- 
lic taste,  often  described  as  coppery,  and  a  sense 
of  constriction  and  burning  heat  in  the  throat  and 
stomach.  The  burning  pain  gradually  extends 
over  the  abdomen,  and  is  much  increased  by  pres- 
sure. There  is  nausea,  with  vomiting  of  the  con- 
tents of  the  stomach.  These  matters  are  some- 
times mixed  with  blood  and  stringy  masses  of 
mucus.  The  sickness  is  accompanied  by  diarrhoea 
or  dysentery,  swelling  of  the  abdomen,  and  increas- 
ed pain.  The  countenance  becomes  flushed  and 
often  swollen,  though  it  is  occasionally  pallid  and 
auxious  ;  the  lips  and  tongue  get  white  and 
shrivelled ;  there  is  frequently  some  dyspnoea, 
while  the  pulse  is  small,  or  wiry  and  frequent ; 
and  death  is  preceded  by  faintness,  cramps,  in- 
sensibility, or  convulsions. 

Should  these  effects  not  prove  rapidly  fatal,  the 
pain  will  gradually  become  lessened,  though 
attacks  of  colic  and  nausea  inay  come  on  at  inter- 
vals for  several  days.  Often  the  secretion  of  urine 
is  almost,  or  even  quite,  suppresed.  After  a  time 
there  are  symptoms  of  hectic  fever,  with  much  de- 
pression. The  gums  and  salivary  glands  also 
become  swollen,  theve  is  a  coppery  taste  in  the 
mouth,  the  breath  is  very  foetid,  and  there  is  severe 
ptyalism  or  salivation.  This  latter  effect  is  the  most 
prominent  feature  in  the  chronic  form  of  poison- 
ing, where    small  and    frequently-repeated  doses 


MERCURY    AND    ITS   COMPOUNDS.  83 

have  been  given  :  it  often  proceeds  to  such  an 
extent  as  to  cause  death,  when  the  patient  would 
otherwise  probably  recover. 

It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  salivation  some- 
times arises  where  no  mercurial  of  any  kind  has 
been  given.  Thus  arsenic,  bismuth,  lead,  iodide 
of  potassium,  opium,  &c.,  may  induce  it  in  some  very 
peculiar  constitutions.  Small  medicinal  doses  (as 
a  few  grains  of  calomel)  may  also  excite  it  in  cer- 
tain susceptible  individuals ;  and  especially  in 
persons  suffering  from  renal  disease.  It  may  also 
occur  spontaneously,  as  in  stomatitis  or  inflamma- 
tion of  the  mouth  ;  and  very  troublesome  examples 
of  it  may  occur  in  pregnant  women. 

It  is  strange  that  neither  in  acute  nor  chronic 
mercurial  poisoning  do  we  observe  any  marked 
loss  of  muscular  power.  Yet  workers  in  quick- 
silver (owing  to  the  absorption  of  the  fumes  of 
mercury  during  respiration)  are  very  apt  to  suffer 
from  a  peculiar  kind  of  paralysis  ;  which  com- 
mences with  inability  to  direct  the  hands  and 
arms,  and  goes  on  to  a  shaking  or  trembling  of 
all  parts  of  the  body. 

Post-mortem  A})pearanc€s. — The  appearances  pro- 
duced by  corrosive  sublimate  are  confined  chiefly 
to  the  digestive  canal.  The  mucous  membrane  of 
the  mouth,  fauces,  and  oesophagus  is  softened  and 
of  a  whitish  or  bluish-grey  color.  The  stomach 
also  presents  marks  of  violent  inflammation  ; 
beneath  the  mucous  membrane  numerous  patches 
of  extravasated  blood  are  seen,  and  frequently 
corrosion  or  ulceration  has  been  found.  The  large 
and  small  intestines,  the  peritoneum,  and  especial- 
ly the  urinary  organs,  often  appear  inflamed.  In 
many  instances  the  bladder  has  been  much  con- 
tracted. 

Treatment. — This  must  consist  in  the  removal  of 


84  SPECIFIC    IRRITANT   POISON'S. 

the  poison  and  the  administration  of  antidotes. 
Yomiting  is  best  promoted  by  administering^ 
copious  draughts  of  finids  containing  albumen  : 
but  if  necessary  ipecacuan  may  be  given.  The 
■vrliite  and  the  yolk  of  raw  eggs  with  milk  should 
be  abundantly  administered.  Glnten  has  been 
much  recommended,  and  may  readily  be  prepared 
by  washing  flour  in  a  mnslin  bag  under  a  stream 
of  water  ;  but  on  an  emergency  it  will  be  best  to 
exhibit  the  flour  at  once,  made  into  a  paste  with 
milk  or  water.  The  free  use  of  demulcent  drinks, 
milk,  and  ice  will  be  very  grateful  U  the  patient's 
feelings.  Gargles  of  aluna  or  borax  do  some  good. 
Opiates  ma}-  be  given  in  small  doses,  if  there  be 
much  pain,  and  we  should  allow  only  a  milk  or 
farinaceous  diet.  Sucking  chlorate  of  potash  has 
been  recommended  to  check  the  salivation.  The 
most  useful  remedy,  however,  is  the  iodide  of 
potassium  ;  for  this  salt  destroys  the  compounds 
formed  by  the  union  of  mercury  with  certain  of 
the  tissues,  and  eliminates  the  poison  through  the 
kidneys. 

Tests. — Corrosive  sublimate  is  completely  vola- 
tilized by  heat. 

1.  Liquor  potassae  added  to  its  solution  gives  a 
yellow  precipitate.  This  precipitate,  if  washed, 
dried,  and  heated  in  a  test  tube,  gives  a  ring  of 
metallic  mercury  in  the  form  of  globules  in  the 
cool  part  of  the  tube.  In  like  fashion  corrosive 
sublimate  itself  may  be  reduced  and  volatilized  if 
heated  with  black  flux. 

2.  On  adding  a  solution  of  iodide  of  potassium 
to  a  small  quantity  of  the  solution,  a  bright 
scarlet  precipitate,  soluble  in  excess  of  iodide  of 
potassium,  is  produced. 

3.  If  a  drop  or  two  of  a  solution  of  corrosive 
sublimate,  slightly  acidulated  with  hydrochloric 


PREPARATIONS    OF    LEAD.  85 

acid,  be  placed  on  a  soyereign,  and  the  solution 
and  the  gold  be  touched  with  a  piece  of  zinc  or  an 
iron  key,  the  mercury  will  be  deposited  as  a  bright 
silvery  stain  on  the  gold. 

Calomel  [Subchloride  or  Chloride  of  3Iercury)  is  a 
heavy  white  powder,  which  is  usually  regarded  as 
a  safe  medicine.  Yet,  in  some  peculiar  constitu- 
tions, it  has  caused  excessive  salivation  and  death, 
even  though  only  a  few  grains  have  been  given. 
In  large  doses  it  may  be  regarded  as  an  irritant 
poison.  It  is  distinguished  from  corrosive  subli-. 
mate  by  forming  a  black  precipitate  with  caustic 
potash  and  hj  its  insolubility  in  water. 

Ammoxio  Chloride  op  Mercury  (  White  Precipi- 
tate).— This  substance  is  a  chalky  looking  powder, 
containing  about  eighty  per  cent,  of  mercury.  It 
produces  vomiting,  purging,  great  pain  in  the 
stomach,  cramps,  and  convulsions.  Out  of  four- 
teen cases,  collected  by  Dr.  Taylor,  in  which  from 
a  few  to  forty  grains  were  taken,  only  two  proved 
fatal. 

The  remaining  preparations  of  mercury,  which 
in  rare  instances  have  been  used  as  poisons,  are 
the  Red  Oxide  of  Mercury  (red  precipitate)  ;  the 
Red  Siilphuret  of  Mercury  (cinnabar  or  vermilion)  j 
the  Cyanide  of  Mercury  ;  the  Nitrates  of  Mercury  ; 
and  Tarpeth  Mineral. 

Mercury  may  be  separated  from  organic  admix- 
ture by  Reinsch's  method. 


CHAPTER  XYIII. 

PREPARATIONS     OF    LEAD. 


Lead,  in  its  metallic  state,  is  not  injurious. '  It 
is,  however,  really  acted  on  by  acids,  exposure  to 


86  SPECIFIC    IRRITANT    POISONS. 

the  atmosphere,  &c.,  and  converted  into  carbonate 
of  lead.  The  chief  compounds  of  this  metal  which 
have  been  found  to  produce  poisonous  effects  are 
the  acetate,  subacetate,  and  the  carbonate. 

Acetate  of  Lead  {Sugar  of  Lead). — This  is  sold 
as  a  glistening:  white  powder,  or  in  the  form  of 
crystalline  masses  resembling  loaf  sugar.  It  is 
more  frequently  used  as  a  poison  than  either  of 
the  other  compounds.  It  is  very  soluble  in  water 
and  has  a  sweetish  metallic  taste.  Three  or  four 
instances  are  recorded  in  which  recovery  has  taken 
place  after  an  ounce  of  this  substance  has  been 
taken  in  solution. 

Mr.  Bancks,  of  Stourbridge,  has  reported  the 
particulars  ot  a  series  of  cases  of  poisoning  by  the 
acetate  of  lead  [Lajicet^  5th  May,  1849).  It  appears 
that  thirty  pounds  of  this  substance  were  acci- 
dently  mixed  at  the  miller's  with  eighty  sacks  of 
flour  This  was  made  into  bread,  from  eating 
which  500  persons  suffered  severely.  The  chief 
symptoms  were  a  sense  of  constriction  in  the 
throat  and  at  the  pit  of  the  stomach,  crampy  pains 
round  the  navel,  stiffness  of  the  abdominal  mus- 
cles, paralysis  of  the  lower  extremities,  constipa- 
tion, scanty  urine,  and  the  formation  of  a  deep 
blue  line  round  the  gums.  Although  in  many 
cases  there  was  great  prostration  with  other 
alarming  symptoms,  yet  under  the  use  of  purga- 
tives all  recovered.  It  was  noticed  that  after  a 
temporary  convalescence  many  of  the  symptoms 
returned  in  an  aggravated  form  without  any 
apparent  cause.  Sometimes  there  has  been  vomit- 
ing and  purging,  and  there  is  great  prostration, 
with  cramps  and  convulsions. 

rost-vwrtem  Ajypearances. — They  are  not  usually 
verj'  distinct.  The  stomach  and  intestines  have 
been  found  inflamed,  and  the  surface  of  the  former 


PREPARATIONS    OF    LEAD.  87 

softened  and,  in  the  case  of  animals,  corroded. 
There  may  be  no  characteristic  signs  in  chronic 
poisoning. 

SuBACETATE  OF  Lead  [Goulard's  Extract). — 
This  substance  is  known  to  have  proved  fatal  in 
three  or  four  instances,  after  having  caused  great 
agony.  It  is  a  more  powerful  poison  than  the  ace- 
tate. It  is  found  in  the  shops  as  a  whitish-colored 
liquid. 

Carbonate  of  Lead  [White  Lead,  Ceruse,  ^'c). — 
This  is  sold  in  heavy  white  masses,  looking  like 
chalk.  It  is  readily  acted  on  by  acids,  but  is  very 
insoluble  in  water. 

Dr.  Snow  has  reported  an  instance  in  which  a 
child  ate  a  portion,  about  the  size  of  a  marble, 
mixed  up  with  oil  ;  it  died  on  the  fourth  day. 
Carbonate  of  lead  derives  its  greatest  interest 
from  the  chronic  form  of  poisoning  which  it  pro- 
duces among  white  lead  manufacturers,  painters, 
«kc.,  known  as  "  the  painters'  colic,''  which  too 
often  terminates  in  ''lead  palsy."  In  these  in- 
staces  the  lead  finds  its  way  into  the  system  by 
absorption  from  the  digestive  canal,  the  lungs,  or 
the  skin ;  producing  its  characteristic  effects  when 
a  sufficient  amount  has  been  absorbed.  It  is  this 
salt  which  is  formed  by  the  action  of  air  and  water 
upon  lead. 

The  other  preparations  of  this  metal  do  not  re- 
quire any  separate  notice. 

Treatment. — The  sulphates  of  soda  or  magnesia 
should  be  freely  given  dissolved  in  water.  Milk, 
or  milk  and  eggs  will  be  useful.  If  vomiting  is 
absent,  an  emetic  of  sulphate  of  zinc  should  be 
administered,  or  the  stomach-pump  may  be  advan- 
tageously employed. 

For  a  chemical   antidote  in  poisoning  by  car- 


88  SPECIFIC    IRRITANT    POISONS. 

bonate  of  lead  Dr.  Taylor  recommends  a  mixture 
of  vinegar  and  sulphate  of  magnesia. 

Tests. — The  presence  of  a  salt  of  lead  in  solution 
may  be  thus  ascertained  : — 1.  On  passing  sul- 
phuretted hydrogen  through  it,  or  on  adding  a  few 
drops  of  sulphide  of  ammonium,  a  black  precipi- 
tate is  given.  2.  A  white  precipitate  results  from 
the  use  of  liquor  potassne  or  liquor  ammonia?.  3. 
Dilute  sulphuric  acid  gives  a  similar  precipitate, 
which  is  insoluble  in  nitric  acid.  4.  Iodide  of 
potassium  affords  a  bright  yellow  deposit  (iodide 
of  lead). 

Chron'ic  Lead  Poisoxixg. — The  chronic  and  in- 
sidious effects  produced  by  lead  upon  the  consti- 
tution are  deserving  of  careful  attention.  Water 
impregnated  with  this  metal  in  its  passage  through 
lead  pipes  or  cisterns,  acquires  poisonous  proper- 
ties. Lead-pigments  are  sometimes  im})roperly 
used  to  color  cheese,  lozenges,  snuflF,~&c.  The 
endemic  colic  of  Devonshire  was  due  to  the  ab- 
sorption of  lead  contained  in  cider,  which  had 
been  made  in  leaden  vessels ;  and  in  the  wine  dis- 
trict of  Poictou  attacks  of  colic  were  so  common, 
from  the  impregnation  of  wine  with  this  metal, 
that  we  still  speak  of  '•  colica  Pictonum." 

The  pernicious  influence  of  lead  is  manifested 
among  those  engaged  in  the  manufacture  or  use  of 
lead  compounds,  especially  painters,  lead  smelters, 
plumbers,  color  grinders,  shot  manufacturers, 
workers  in  sugar  of  lead,  potters,  compositors, 
enamellers  of  cards,  kc.  These  artisans  should  be 
advised  to  pre<enT~T}isease  by  great  cleanliness,  by 
avoiding  intoxicating  liquors,  and  by  drinking 
freely  of  sulphuric  acid  lemonade.  The  substitu- 
tion of  moist  for  dry  grinding  has  proved  useful. 

The  most  prominent  symptoms  of  chronic  poison- 
ing by  lead  are  as  follows  :     A  blue  line  around 


SALTS    OF    COPPER.  89 

the  gums,  and  the  liability  of  the  latter  to  bleed 
from  any  slight  cause  ;  emaciation,  a  pallid  tint  of 
the  complexion,  poorness  of  blood,  and  a  feeble 
quick  pulse  ;  obstinate  constipation,  with  attacks 
of  colic  relieved  by  pressure  ;  diminution  of  the 
renal  secretion  and  rheumatic  pains  ;  afterwards 
comes  weakness  of  the  hands,  wrists,  and  arms, 
ending  in  paralysis  of  the  extensors,  or  "dropped 
wrists,"  creeping  up  the  arms. 

The  treatment  of  these  cases  must  consist  in  the 
first  instance  in  the  use  of  purgatives  ;  none  being 
better  than  sulphate  of  magnesia  with  the  dilute 
sulphuric  acid.  But  the  remedy  of  all  others  is 
the  iodide  of  potassium,  in  five  or  ten  grain  doses 
thrice  daily ;  this  agent  acting  most  beneficially 
Avhen  employed  in  conjunction  with  galvanism  to 
the  paralysed  limbs. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

SALTS    OP    COPPER. 


Poisoning  with  the  salts  of  copper  is  of  com- 
paratively rare  occurrence  ;  when  it  happens,  it  is 
generally  the  result  of  accident.  The  metal  itself 
is  not  poisonous,  but  the  action  of  the  gastric 
juice  may  produce  a  very  deleterious  salt.  Copper 
coins,  when  swallowed,  sometimes  on  this  account 
prove  mischievous  ;  though  usually  any  ill  effects 
which  ensue  are  due  to  their  mechanical  action. 
Salts  of  copper  have  been  accidentally  introduced 
into  the  system  by  means  of  food  which  has  been 
cooked  in   copper  saucers.     The   most   important 


90  SPECIFIC    IRRITANT    POISONS. 

substances  of  this  class  to  the  toxicologist  are  the 
following : 

Sulphate  of  Copper  [Blue  Vitriol). — Blue-stone 
is  met  with  in  large  crystals,  which  are  very  solu- 
ble in  water  and  possess  an  acrid  metallic  taste. 
In  doses  of  half  an  ounce  it  acts  as  a  powerful  ir- 
ritant. It  has  been  administered  to  procure  abor- 
tion. In  the  case  of  a  child  sixteen  months  old, 
who  sucked  some  pieces  of  blue-stone  with  which 
she  was  playing,  death  occurred  in  four  hours. 

SuBACETATE  OF  CoppER  (  Verdigris). — This  prepa- 
ration is  met  with  in  masses,  or  in  the  form  of  a 
greenish  powder.  It  possesses  a  powerful  astringent 
metallic  taste.  It  is  often  produced  by  allowing 
substances  to  stand  in  coppers.  It  has  proved 
fatal  in  half  ounce  doses. 

Arsexite  of  Copper  (.V/wcro?  Green). — The  effects 
of  this  salt  have  been  already  referred  to. 

Symptoms. — Pain  in  the  epigastrium,  gradually 
extending  over  the  abdomen,  violent  vomiting — 
the  vomited  matters  being  of  a  blue  or  green 
color — and  diarrhoea,  are  the  symptoms  which 
set  in  the  most  speedily.  Then  there  is  usually 
dyspnoea,  great  depression,  coldness  of  the  ex- 
tremities, headache  with  giddiness,  and  slight 
tetanic  convulsions.  Sometimes  there  is  suppres- 
sion of  urine.  Jaundice  very  frequently  occurs — 
a  symptom  the  more  important,  as  it  is  rarely  met 
with  in  most  other  forms  of  poisoning.  Occasion- 
ally stupor,  coma,  and  paralysis  supervene.  Should 
death  ensue,  it  may  occur  within  a  few  hours,  or 
not  for  several  days. 

The  salts  of  copper  taken  in  very  small  doses, 
for  several  days,  give  rise  to  a  metallic  taste  in  the 
mouth,  thirst,  debility,  cramps  and  colicky  pains, 
with  symptoms  of  dysentery.  In  some  instances 
there  has  been  found  retraction  of  the  gums  with 


SALTS    OF    COPPER.  91 

the  formation  of  a  purple  line,  very  distinct  from 
the  blue  mark  due  to  lead. 

Post-mortem  Appearances. — Eridences  of  inflam- 
mation are  usually  found  in  the  stomach  and  in- 
testines, the  mucous  membrane  being  often  ulcer- 
ated and  of  a  blue-green  color.  Particles  of  the 
poison  may  sometimes  be  found  adhering  to  the 
coats  of  the  bowel.  Perforation  of  the  intestines 
has  occurred. 

Treatment. — Vomiting  sets  in  spontaneously,  and 
is  to  be  encouraged  by  the  use  of  warm  water. 
The  stomach  pump  will  rarely  be  needed.  The 
only  effectual  antidote  is  albumen.  The  whites 
and  yolks  of  several  eggs  should  therefore  be 
given,  followed  immediately  by  milk  or  mucilagi- 
nous drinks. 

Tests. — Solutions  of  the  sulphate  and  nitrate  of 
copper  are  blue  ;  the  chloride  is  green.  The  salts 
of  copper  may  be  thus  identified  : 

1.  A  polished  knife  or  needle  introduced  into 
the  solution  is  soon  covered  with  a  coating  of 
copper. 

2.  Ammonia  produces  with  a  salt  of  copper  a 
bluish  precipitate,  readily  soluble  in  excess  of 
ammonia,  and  forming  a  splendid  blue  solution. 

3.  Ferrocyanide  of  potassium  gives  a  claret- 
colored  gelatinous  precipitate,  if  the  copper  be 
abundant ;  otherwise  the  deposit  is  of  a  light 
brown. 

4.  Sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas  yields  a  deep- 
brown  precipitate. 

5.  A  few  drops  of  the  copper  solution  are  to  be 
placed  on  platinum  foil,  and  slightly  acidulated  ; 
on  touching  the  foil,  throngh  the  solution,  with  a 
strip  of  zinc,  metallic  copper  is  deposited  on  the 
patinum. 


92  SPECIFIC    IRRITANT    POISONS. 

CHAPTER  XX. 
SPECIFIC    VEGETABLE    IRRITANTS. 

Laburnum  {Cytisus  laburmnn). — Even'  portion 
of  this  plant  is  poisonous.  The  seeds  are  fre- 
quently eaten  by  children,  and  give  rise  to  vomit- 
ing and  purging,  "svith  dilatation  of  the  pupils, 
rigors,  rigid  limbs,  &c. 

(Enanthe  crocata,  PheUandrinum  aquaiicum,  JEth- 
tisa  Ci/napium,  kc,  strictly  speaking,  belong  to 
this  group. 

Black  Hellebore  {HeUeboriis  niger)  or  Christmas 
Pose,  grows  in  shady  woods,  and  bears  a  large 
flower  in  January.  The  leaves  and  root  when 
eaten  give  rise  to  abdominal  pain,  vomiting  and 
purging,  vertigo,  cold  sweats,  and  collapse,  resem- 
bling that  of  malignant  cholera.  An  infusion  of 
this  plant  is  sometimes  administered  by  quacks  to 
destroy  intestinal  worms.  It  has  proved  fatal  to 
children  under  these  circumstances. 

Several  other  substances  variously  grouped  for 
the  sake  of  convenience  should  come  under  this 
headinor. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

SPECIFIC    AXIMAL    IRRITANTS. 

Caxtharides  {Spa)}ish  Flies). 

This  poison  is  well  known,  and  is  usually  admin- 
istered in  the  form  of  powder  or  tincture.     Of  the 


CANTHARIDES.  93 

former,  twenty-four  grains  have  destroyed  life ; 
of  the  latter,  one  ounce.  This  poison  has  been 
employed  as  an  aphrodisiac  and  to  induce  abor- 
tion, by  persons  ignorant  of  its  dangerous  effects. 
This  is,  perhaps,  the  most  frequent  cause  of  poi- 
soning by  cantharides.  Applied  externally  it  has 
proved  fatal,  as  in  the  case  of  a  girl  affected  with 
scabies,  who  anointed  the  whole  of  her  body  with 
cantharides  ointment  in  mistake  for  that  of  sul- 
phur. She  died  in  five  days,  after  suffering  from 
the  symptoms  of  poisoning  by  cantharides. 

It  produces  an  acrid  taste,  vomiting,  purging, 
burning  heat  in  the  stomach,  pain  in  the  loins, 
severe  strangury,  bloody  urine,  and  priapism. 
Then  there  is  faintness  with  giddiness,  the  limbs 
become  rigid,  and  delirium  with  convulsions  pre- 
cede death.  Sometimes  the  matters  ejected  from 
the  stomach  or  passed  in  the  stools  contain  shin- 
ing golden  or  green  particles,  the  remains  of  the 
wing  cases  of  the  beetles,  which  constitute  the 
drug,  readily  seen  with  a  lens,  or  even  with  the 
naked  eye. 

After  death,  marks  of  inflammation  are  found 
in  the  alimentary  canal,  kidneys  and  bladder,  and 
the  genital  organs. 

Tests. — The  detection  of  Spanish  flies,  if  taken 
solid,  depends  mainly  on  the  presence  of  the  shin- 
ing particles  already  alluded  to,  in  the  stomach, 
or  in  the  voiuited  matters.  To  make  their  nature 
certain,  however,  an  extract  of  the  suspected  mate- 
rials should  be  prepared  and  treated  repeatedly 
with  chloroform  or  ether.  This  fluid  is  to  be 
allowed  to  evaporate  till  only  a  few  drops  are  left, 
which  may  be  applied  on  lint  to  some  portion  of 
the  body  where  the  skin  is  fine,  as  the  fore  arm, 
the  part  being  covered  by  a  bit  of  isinglass  plaster, 
7 


94  SPECIFIC    IRRITANT    POISONS. 

or  goldbeaters'  skin.     The  vesication  produced  is 
the  test  of  the  presence  of  cantharides. 

No  antidote  is  known.  Vomiting  must  be  ex- 
cited or  encouraged  ;  and  linseed  tea,  and  gum 
■water,  or  gruel  copiously  administered.  The 
warm  bath  will  afford  great  relief.  Oil  must  be 
avoided,  on  account  of  its  being  a  solvent  of  the 
active  principle  (cantharidine)  of  this  poison. 


IV -NEUROTIC  POISONS. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 
NARCOTICS. 

NEUROTICS,    ACTING    ON    THE    BRAIN    AND    PRODUCINa 
SLEEP. 

Opium. 

Opium  is  the  inspissated  juice  of  the  unripe  cap- 
sules of  the  Papaver  somniferum^  or  white  poppy, 
and  is  a  very  complex  substance.  Its  principal 
properties,  however,  are  due  to  the  presence  of 
morphia,  as  meconate  of  morphia;  but  others  of 
its  constituent  substances  undoubtedly  modify  its 
action. 

It  is  sometimes  used  as  a  poison  in  its  crude 
state,  but  more  frequently  in  solution  in  alcohol, 
forming  tincture  of  opium,  or  laudanum.  Unfor- 
tunately, opium  is  the  powerful  ingredient  of  most 
soothing  syrups  for  children,  to  whom  opium  is 
at  all  times  especially  dangerous  ;  and  many  who 
do  not  die  from  its  direct  effects,  do  from  the  wast- 
ing indirectly  produced. 

Of  domestic  quieting  physic  the  chief  prepara- 
tions are  Godfrey's  Cordial,  supposed  to  consist 
of  one  grain  of  opium  in  two  ounces  ;  and  Dalby's 
Carminativ'e,  which  is  one-fourth  weaker. 

The  smallest  quantity  of  laudanum  which  is 
known  to  have  proved  fatal  to  an  adult  is  two 


96  NEUROTIC    POISONS. 

drachms,  from  which  death  occurred  -u-ithin  twelve 
hours.  The  exact  quantity  taken  was,  however, 
doubtful.  Two  grains  and  a  half  of  the  extract,  a 
quantity  said  to  be  equal  to  four  grains  of  crude 
opium,  have  produced  a  simflar  result.  Much 
larger  doses  are,  however,  taken  with  impunity  on 
many  occasions,  more  especially  by  those  habit- 
uated to  the  use  of  this  drug,  who  remain  almost 
iinaffected  by  surprisingly  large  quantities.  De 
Quincey.  the  English  opium-eater,  once  found  in 
a  jiirated  edition  of  "  Buchan's  Domestic  Medi- 
cine," a  caution  against  taking  more  than  "  twenty- 
five  ounces''  of  laudanum  at  one  dose.  He  says 
that  he  always  bore  this  excellent  advice  in  mind  ; 
and  it  does  not  appear  that  he  ever  took  more 
than  sixteen  ounces  of  the  tincture  of  opium  as 
his  daily  allowance.  In  certain  diseases,  patients 
quite  unaccustomed  to  the  use  of  sedatives  can 
take  excessive  amounts  without  narcotism  being 
produced.  In  some  cases  of  tetanus,  for  example, 
upwards  of  four  ounces  of  laudanum  have  been 
given  daily  for  a  week,  without  any  marked  effect. 
On  the  other  hand,  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that 
not  a  few  individuals  are  unable  to  take  even  one- 
third  of  a  grain  Avithout  being  narcotised.  Young 
children  are  particularly  susceptible  of  its  effects  ; 
the  tenth  and  twelfth  parts  of  a  grain  having  re- 
spectively proved  fatal  to  infants  two  and  five 
days  old.  Dr.  Edward  Smith  has  even  recorded 
the  case  of  an  infant  seven  days  old,  who  died 
comatose  eighteen  hours  after  having  had  admin- 
istered to  it  about  the  twelfth  of  a  grain  of  opium, 
or  the  quantity  contained  in  one  drop  of  lauda- 
num.*    The  smallest  fatal   dose  for  a  child  on 

*  Considering  the  reprehensible  way  in  which  pseudo-medical 
advice  is  given  in  some  newspapers  and  cheap  periodicals,  it  is 
only  surprising  that  more  cases  of  poisoning  do  not  occur.  Take 


OPIUM.  97 

record  is  one  of  paregoric  elixir  equivalent  to 
about  one-ninetieth  of  a  grain  of  opium.  On  the 
other  hand,  they  sometimes  recover  from  very- 
large  doses  indeed. 

The  duration  of  a  fatal  case  is  generally  from 
seven  to  twelve  hours.  The  shortest  period  re- 
corded is  three-quarters  of  an  hour ;  the  longest, 
twenty-four  hours.  If  the  patient  survives  twelve 
hours  there  is  good  hope  of  recovery. 

The  quantit}^  of  Morphia  found  in  opium  varies 
from  two  to  ten  per  cent.  The  chief  salts  of  this 
alkaloid  are  the  acetate^  the  hydro  chlorate^  and  the 
sulphate^  all  being  very  energetic  poisons.  They 
cause  symptoms  similar  to  those  about  to  be  de- 
scribed as  produced  by  opium.  But,  in  addition, 
there  has  been  especially  noticed  great  itching  of 
the  skin,  convulsive  twitchings  of  the  muscles  of 
the  face  and  limbs,  and  occasionally  tetanus. 
Small  doses  of  any  of  the  salts  of  morphia  may 
cause  death.  In  a  delicate  woman  half  a  grain  is 
supposed  to  have  proved  fatal ;  in  several  instances 
one  grain  has  proved  fatal ;  and  certainly  a  dose 
of  two  grains  might  kill  a  healthy  adult  unaccus- 
tomed to  opiates.  Nevertheless,  under  the  influ- 
ence of  custom,  large  quantities  may  be  taken.  A 
young  lady,  who  has  long  been  under  notice,  has 
for  the  last  three  j-ears  taken  daily  fifteen  grains 
of  the  hydrochlorate  of  morphia,  without  obtain- 
ing more  than  two  or  three  hours'  sleep  from  it; 
while  for  many  days  in  succession,  when  suffering 
much  pain,  she  increases  the  quantity  to  one 
scruple.      From   attempts   to   diminish   the   dose, 

the  following  example  {Sunday  Times,  3d  October,  1847),  of  a 
cure  for  dysentery  :  •'  Half  a  noggin  of  logwood,  well  boiled  and 
strained,  half  a  glass  of  port  wine,  and  twenty  drops  of  lauda- 
num, have  proved  successful  in  checking  dysentry  in  adults. 
For  children  only  fifteen  drops  of  laudanum  should  be  used." 


yo  NEUROTIC    POISONS. 

made  withoiit  the  patient's  knowledge,  only  mis- 
chief has  resulted. 

Others  of  the  opium  alkaloids  are  poisonous; 
but  instances  of  poisoning  by  their  means  have 
not  occurred,  except  one  doubtful  instance  of 
poisoning  by  narcotine,  recorded  by  Sounenschein. 

Sympioms. — When  a  large  dose  of  opium  or  its 
tincture  has  been  taken  the  symptoms  usually 
manifest  themselves  in  about  twenty  or  thirty 
minutes.  They  commence  with  giddiness,  drow- 
siness, and  stupor;  then  ensues  insensibility.  The 
patient  appears  as  if  in  a  sound  sleep,  from  which 
he  can  be  roused  by  a  loud  noise,  &c.,  although 
he  quickly  relapses.  As  the  poisoning  j)rogresses 
the  breathing  becomes  slow  and  stertorous,  the 
pulse  weak  and  feeble,  and  the  countenance  livid. 
The  eyes  are  closed,  while  the  pupils  are  gener- 
ally contracted,  often  almost  to  the  size  of  a  pin's 
point,  and  insensible  to  the  stimulus  of  light.  In 
some  instances  the  skin  is  cold  and  livid,  in  others 
it  is  bathed  in  sweat.  So  also  the  countenance 
may  be  either  ghastly  or  placid,  the  pupils  may 
even  be  dilated,  and  the  pulse  may  be  unaffected, 
or  so  small  and  frequent  as  to  be  scarcely  appre- 
ciable. Vomiting  sometimes  occurs,  with  slight 
reaction,  so  that  hopes  of  recovery  are  entertained. 
But  frequently  there  is  a  relapse,  the  comatose 
state  returns,  and  death  quickly  follows,  occa- 
sionally preceded  by  convulsions. 

The  possibility  of  rousing  a  patient  during  the 
earlier  portion  of  the  i)rogress  of  these  symptoms 
will  assist  in  diagnosing  tlie  eflects  of  poisoning  by 
opium  from  those  due  to  apoplexy,  epilepsy,  &c. 
The  contracted  condition  of  the  pupil  will  also 
assist ;  but  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  in  lesion 
of  the  pons  Varolii  the  pupils  are  also  contracted. 
When  permanent  recovery  ensues  it  is  complete  ; 


OPIUM.  99 

but  it  is  usually  preceded  for  a  day  or  two  by 
severe  nausea,  a  sense  of  weariness,  constipation, 
and  headaclie. 

The  habitual  use  of  opium  is  most  injurious. 
Dr.  Oppenheim,  in  his  description  of  the  state  of 
medicine  in  Turkey,  tells  us  that  persons  seldom 
attain  the  age  of  forty  who  have  begun  the  prac- 
tice early.  The  opium-eater  may  be  known  by 
his  attenuated  body,  withered  yellow  countenance, 
stooping  posture,  and  glassy,  sunken  eyes.  He 
has  no  appetite,  his  bodily  powers  are  destroyed, 
and  he  is  obliged  continually  to  increase  the  dose 
of  his  "  grief-assuaging  remedy"'  to  obtain  the 
wished-for  eflFect. 

Post-mortem  appearances. — The  appearances  in 
acute  poisoning  by  opium  are  not  very  character- 
istic. The  most  prominent  are,  great  turgescence 
of  the  vessels  of  the  brain,  with  eflFusion  of  serum 
into  the  ventricles  and  at  the  base.  The  turgid 
condition  of  the  vessels  often  continues  down  the 
spinal  cord,  &c.  The  lungs  are  usually  gorged 
with  fluid  blood,  and  the  skin  is  of  a  livid  hue. 

Treatment. — The  first  object  is  to  remove  all  the 
poison  from  the  stomach,  and  this  cannot  be 
effected  in  any  way  so  well  as  by  the  stomach- 
pump.  In  the  absence  of  this  instrument,  emetics 
of  half  a  drachm  of  sulphate  of  zinc,  or  a  table- 
spoonful  of  mustard,  must  be  employed.  The 
patient  at  the  same  time  is  to  be  prevented  as  far 
as  possible  from  going  to  sleep.  When  the  sto- 
mach- has  been  thoroughly  emptied,  every  means 
must  be  adopted  to  keep  the  patient  roused. 
This  is  to  be  effected  by  dashing  cold  water  over 
his  head  and  chest,  walking  him  up  and  down  or 
shaking  him  between  two  attendants  in  the  open 
air,  irritating  his  legs  b}'  flagellation  with  a  wet 
towel,  applying   electro-magnetic    shocks    to    the 


100  NEUROTIC    POISONS. 

^ine,  and  administering  strong  coffee.  Bleeding 
has  been  recommended  ;  but  it  is  only  to  be  used 
after  the  poison  has  been  removed  from  the  sto- 
mach, and  when  from  the  coma  and  full  pulse  we 
are  sure  that  there  is  cerebral  congestion.  In  ex- 
treme cases  artificial  respiration  must  be  tried. 

The  remedies  recommended  must  be  persever- 
ingly  used,  remembering  that  as  long  as  life  lasts 
hope  of  recovery  is  not  to  be  banished.  In  the 
great  majority  of  cases  the  treatment  is  successful. 

Tests. — There  are  no  direct  means  by  which 
opium  may  be  detected.  "We  endeavor  therefore 
to  obtain  evidence  of  the  presence  of  morphia  and 
meconic  acid.  The  two  substances  may  be  separ- 
ated from  organic  admixture  by  the  following 
process :  The  suspected  matters  should  be  well 
boiled  with  distilled  water,  and  spirit  acidulated 
with  acetic  acid,  and  strained.  To  the  fluid  which 
has  passed  through,  acetate  of  lead  is  to  be  added 
until  precipitation  ceases,  and  the  whole,  after 
standing,  is  to  be  thrown  on  a  filter.  The  insolu- 
ble meconate  of  lead  remains  on  the  filter,  the 
morphia  passing  through  as  acetate.  To  separate 
the  mecouic  acid  the  substance  on  the  filter  is  to 
be  diff'used  through  water,  and  sulphuretted 
hydrogen  passed  for  a  time.  Sulphide  of  lead  is 
thus  thrown  down  and  may  be  separated  by  filtra- 
tion, the  meconic  acid  remaining  in  solution.  On 
concentration  this  should  give  the  requisite  re- 
actions. 

In  the  search  for  morphia  the  filtered  fluid  above 
referred  to  is  also  to  be  treated  with  sulphuretted 
hydrogen,  to  secure  the  precipitation  of  all  acetate 
of  lead,  (fcc,  which  is  next  to  be  carefully  separ- 
ated from  it  by  further  filtration.  The  fluid  now 
passing  through,  containing  the  acetate  of  mor- 
phia, is  next  to  be  concentrated  by  evaporation 


MORPHIA.  101 

over  a  water  bath,  and  carefully  neutralized  by 
bicarbonate  of  potass,  if  it  be  desired  to  obtain 
the  pure  alkaloid  ;  but  this  is  not  necessary,  as 
the  acetate  responds  to  all  reagents.  The  acetate 
may  be  dissolved  out  of  the  mass  in  dilute  alcohol 
(it  is  not  soluble  in  ether),  again  filtered,  the  fil- 
trate being  finally  evaporated  to  dryness  and 
tested. 

Morphia. — The  best  tests  for  this  alkaloid,  in 
substance  or  in  solution  (substance  is  preferable) 
are : 

1.  Nitric  acid,  which  strikes  an  orange  red  color, 
varying  in  intensity  with  the  strength  of  the  acid 
and  the  concentration  of  the  morphia  solution. 
Ruddy  fumes  are  also  developed. 

2.  Neutral  perchloride  of  iron,  strikes  a  rich 
blue  color  with  morphia  when  added  in  small 
quantity  ;  if  added  in  excess,  the  yellow  of  the  test, 
combining  with  the  blue,  may  produce  a  green. 
This  blue  is  destroyed  by  acids  and  by  heat. 
Nitric  acid  not  only  destroys  the  blue  produced 
by  this  test,  but  replaces  it  with  the  orange-red 
color  ;  so  that  the  nitric  acid  test  may  be  applied 
to  the  same  portion  of  morphia  after  the  iron  test, 
but  not  vice  versa. 

3.  Iodic  acid.  This  acid  becomes  decomposed, 
owing  to  the  reducing  action  of  moq:)hia,  setting 
free  the  iodine.  The  latter  is  detected  by  its  brown 
color,  and  the  blue  which  it  strikes  with  starch. 
The  iodic  acid  should  be  previously  tested  to  as- 
certain its  purity,  as  it  occasionally  contains  free 
iodine. 

4.  Bichromate  of  potassium  gives  a  green  with 
morphia,  passing  to  a  dingy  brown. 

Meconic  Acid. — This  is  obtained  from  solutions 
of  opium,  in  the  form  of  little  scaly  crystals  of  a 
reddish  tint,  which  are  decomposed  by  heat  and 


102  NEUROTIC    POISON'S. 

partly  sublimed.  In  solution  it  may  be  detected 
by  its  acquiring  a  blood-red  color  on  the  addition 
of  the  perchloride  of  iron.  A  similar  color  is  pro- 
duced by  sulphocyanide  of  potassium,  as  found  in 
the  saliva;  but  the  color  of  the  meconate  is  not 
discharged  by  chloride  of  gold;  the  sulphocyanide 
is. 

Xarcotixe  dissolves  in  sulphuric  acid  with  a 
yellow  color,  converted  into  a  carmine  red  by  the 
addition  of  a  trace  of  nitric  acid. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 
ANESTHETICS. 


NEUROTICS     ACTIXG    ON     THE     BRAIN     AND    PRODUCING 
INSENSIBILITY. 

CHLOROFORM — CHLORAL BICHLORIDE    OF  METHLYENE 

ETHER AMYLENE — NITROUS    OXIDE. 

The  anaesthetics  which  have  hitherto  been  em- 
ployed in  the  practice  of  medicine  are  chloroform, 
sulphuric  ether  (or  a  mixture  of  these),  bichloride 
of  methyleue  and  nitrous  oxide,  and  amylene. 
Any  of  these  agents  may  cause  death  when  intro- 
duced into  the  system  by  inhalation. 

Chloroform  is  a  colorless,  heavy,  volatile 
liquid;  having  a  fruity  ethereal  odor  and  a  sweet 
pungent  taste.  It  is  formed  by  the  union  of 
chlorine  and  marsh  gas,  but  more  commonly  by 
the  action  of  bleaching  powder  on  ethylic  or 
methylic  alcohol.  It  is  readily  soluble  in  alcohol, 
but  very  sparingly  so  in  water.     Chloroform  is  a 


CHLOROFORM.  103 

good  solvent  of  caoutchouc,  gutta-percha,  cam- 
phor, wax,  resin,  some  of  the  alkaloids,  &c. 

The  symptoms  produced  by  the  vapor  of  chloro- 
form may  be  divided  into  three  groups  of  varying 
intensity  ;  briefly  they  are  these  :  First,  a  degree 
of  relief  from  pain,  the  senses  being  but  slightly 
affected  ;  second,  a  stage  of  excitement  and  inco- 
herence, wherein  the  patient  is  prone  to  struggle  ; 
and  thirdly,  a  stage  of  which  the  most  marked 
features  are  complete  insensibility  and  narcotism, 
with  relaxation  of  the  muscular  system.  At  first 
the  patient  is  conscious  of  all  that  is  passing 
around  him,  but  there  is  dizziness  and  singing  in 
the  ears.  Then  the  mental  functions  are  impaired, 
there  is  often  excitement,  the  saliva  is  increased, 
the  patient  pushes  away  the  inhaler,  rigidity  and 
spasms  of  the  muscles  may  occur,  and  there  is  in- 
coherent talk.  In  the  next  stage  there  is  insensi- 
bility to  pain,  and  the  conjunctiva  maybe  touched 
without  causing  flinching.  If  the  use  of  this 
anaesthetic  be  pushed  further  the  breathing  be- 
comes stertorous,  the  muscles  quite  relaxed,  and 
the  pupils  dilated;  while  a  still  further  increase 
of  the  chloroform  embarrasses  and  then  stops  the 
breathing  and  arrests  the  heart's  action. 

Many  cases  of  death  from  the  vapor  of  chloro- 
form have  occurred,  the  fatal  eff'ect  sometimes 
happening  very  rapidly  from  shock,  syncope,  or 
convulsions.  The  vapor  of  only  thirty  drops  has 
destroyed  life  in  one  minute.  Death  under  the 
influence  of  chloroform  must  not  be  confounded 
with  death  from  its  effects.  The  smallest  fatal 
dose  when  the  drug  has  been  swallowed  is  one 
drachm  in  a  boy  aged  four. 

The  effects  of  chloroform  taken  by  the  mouth 
are  of  the  same  description  as  those  which  follow 
the  inhalation  of  this  agent;  with  this  exception, 


104  NEUROTIC    POISONS. 

that  the  fatal  result  seems  to  be  longer  deferred. 
A  case  reported  in  the  Medical  Times  and  Gazette^ 
10th  May,  18G2,  illustrates  the  sj-mptoms,  &c.,  in 
a  clear  way.  Mr.  M.,  thirty-four  years  of  age,  a 
highly-gifted  restless  man,  was  in  the  habit  of  in- 
haling chloroform  on  account  of  sleeplessness.  He 
was  very  sensitive  to  its  action.  At  about  12.30 
A.M.  on  the  7th  October,  1861,  he  drank  some 
chloroform  ;  the  quantity  being  uncertain,  though 
it  may  be  inferred  that  it  was  about  one  ounce. 
At  7.15  he  was  in  such  a  profound  sleep  that  his 
wife  felt  uneasy,  and  she  sent  for  Dr.  Axel  Lamm. 
This  gentleman  found  his  patient  in  a  tranquil 
sleep,  the  respiration  being  somewhat  hurried  and 
audible,  the  pulse  full  but  slow,  the  body  warm, 
and  the  pupils  dilated  and  insensible.  There  was 
a  perceptible  smell  of  chloroform  in  the  breath  and 
in  the  air  of  the  room.  The  window  was  opened, 
ice  was  applied  to  the  head,  cold  affusions  were 
used  along  the  spine,  and  an  enema  was  adminis- 
tered. At  9.30  A.M.,  the  patient  was  paler,  breath- 
inglessaudiblj',  and  with  a  weaker  pulse.  Artificial 
respiration  was  employed  by  means  of  electricity, 
an  ammonia  lavement  was  given,  and  aspersions 
of  iced  water  to  the  chest  and  pit  of  the  stomach 
were  used  alternately  with  warm  coverings.  The 
stupor  continued,  the  respired  air  smelt  distinctly 
of  chloroform,  the  abdomen  was  tympanitic,  and 
the  pupils  began  to  contract.  About  9  p.m.  the 
eyes  began  to  move,  the  pupils  seemed  sensible  to 
light,  the  pulse  was  16U,  there  was  abundant  per- 
spiration, and  the  patient  sat  up  for  a  few  moments 
and  looked  surprised.  Exhaustion,  however,  set 
in,  and  death  occurred  just  before  midnight,  nearly 
twenty-four  hours  after  swallowing  the  poison. 

A    second   interesting   case  [Medical    Times  and 
Gazette,  31st  May,  1862)   also   deserves  attention. 


CHLOROFORM.  105 

A  gentleman,  fifty  years  of  age,  swallowed  two 
ounces  of  pure  chloroform  at  8  a.m.  He  was  not 
seen  until  3  p.m.,  when  he  was  found  in  a  state  of 
deep  coma.  His  breath  smelt  strongly  of  chloro- 
form, the  pupils  were  widely  dilated  and  insensi- 
ble, the  pulse  slow  and  feeble,  the  surface  colder 
than  natural,  the  raoyements  of  the  thorax  scarcely 
perceptible,  and  sensation  generally  abolished. 
Ammonia,  sinapisms,  bottles  of  hot  water,  and 
cold  affusion  did  no  good  ;  but  on  using  a  stomach- 
pump  a  quantity  of  chloroform  mixed  with  watery 
mucus  was  withdrawn,  and  in  less  than  an  hour 
the  patient  was  able  to  answer  questions.  For 
three  or  four  days  he  complained  of  a  burning 
sensation  in  the  throat  and  epigastrium,  and  then 
got  well.  A  consideration  of  the  treatment  em- 
ployed in  this  instance  cannot  but  suggest  the  idea 
that  the  first  patient  might  haye  had  a  better 
chance  of  recoyery  had  the  stomach-pump  been 
used  when  Dr.  Lamm  was  first  called  in  ;  though 
it  is  difficult  to  conceiye  how  any  quantity  of  chlo- 
roform could  remain  in  the  stv;)mach  for  seven 
hours,  without  all  of  it  being  absorbed. 

Various  plans  haye  been  suggested  for  the  ad- 
ministration of  chloroform  with  safety,  but  this 
must  be  remembered  :  the  use  of  anaesthetics  is  at 
all  times  attended  with  risk,  and  we  can  only  at 
best  diminish  the  danger.  Apparatus  may  be  used 
so  as  to  reduce  the  risk  to  a  minimum  ;  but  this 
is  plain,  any  contriyance  which  in  itself  requires 
much  attention,  and  thereby  diverts  it  from  the 
patient,  is  bad.  More  lives  have  been  lost  by 
bungling  in  its  administration  than  from  the  nox- 
ious character  of  the  drug. 

In  the  treatment  of  poisoning  by  the  vapor  of 
any  of  the  anaesthetics  mentioned  in  this  chapter, 
we  must  expose  the  patient  to  a  current  of  pure 


106  NEUROTIC    POISONS. 

air,  use  cold  affusion,  and  employ  artificial  respi- 
ration until  the  poison  is  eliminated.  Galvanism 
may  be  employed  to  keep  up  the  action  of  the 
diaphragm,  either  directly  or  through  the  phrenics. 
As  these  agents  are  got  rid  of  through  the  lungs, 
the  purity  of  the  expired  air  is  one  test  of  the 
elimination  being  complete;  though  of  course  in- 
ferior to  the  evidence  afforded  by  the  subsidence 
of  the  symptoms.  In  poisoning  by  liquid  chloro- 
form or  ether  the  stomach-pump  ought  to  be 
promptly  used. 

Chloral  Hydrate,  which  with  an  alkali  is  con- 
verted into  chloroform,  has  of  late  been  much 
used  as  a  narcotic  and  for  easing  pain.  No  details 
of  an}'  case  of  poisoning  by  its  agency  have  yet 
been  published. 

Bichloride  of  Methylene  has  been  used  for 
anaesthetic  ])urposes.  It  is  supposed  to  be  safer 
than  chloroform.  Practically  they  act  much  alike, 
and  death  happens  with  the  one  as  with  the  other. 

Test. — Chloroform  at  a  red  heat  is  decomposed, 
and  chlorine  and  hydrochloric  acid  are  formed. 
Hence,  to  detect  it  the  substance  supposed  to  con- 
tain it  may  be  heated  so  as  to  expel  the  chloro- 
form, which  should  be  conducted  away  from  it  by 
a  tube  at  right  angles  ;  to  this  heat  should  be  ap- 
plied sufficient  to  decompose  the  vapor,  and  its 
products  searched  for  by  the  ordinary  tests.  The 
smell  is  a  valuable  criterion. 

Sulphuric  Ether. — Sulphuric  ether,  or  ether,  is 
a  clear  colorless  liquid,  very  inflammable,  soluble 
in  alcohol,  and  less  so  in  water.  It  is  usually  ob- 
tained by  distilling  common  alcohol  with  sulphuric 
acid. 

The  effects  produced  by  the  inhalation  of  ether 
are  similar  to  those  which  result  from  chloroform. 
It  is,  however,  without  doubt  a  much  safer  agent, 


NITROUS    OXIDE.  107 

but  its  effects  are  longer  in  manifesting  them- 
selves ;  it  is  more  irritating  to  the  air-passages, 
and  much  more  of  it  is  required.  Deaths  have 
occurred  under  its  influence  as  under  that  of 
chloroform. 

Amylexe. — This  is  a  colorless,  volatile  liquid, 
made  by  distilling  amylic  alcohol  (obtained  from 
crude  fusel  oil,  or  oil  of  potato  spirit)  with  chlo- 
ride of  zinc. 

Dr.  Snow  found  that  amvlene,  like  chloroform, 
is  capable  of  causing  sudden  death  by  inducing 
over-narcotism  of  the  heart,  and  paralysis  of  this 
organ.  He  had  two  deaths  from  it,  and  it  has 
since  been  entirely  given  up  as  an  anaesthetic. 

Nitrous  Oxide. — Comparatively  recently  the 
laughing  gas  of  Sir  Humphrey  Davy  has  been 
introduced  as  an  anaesthetic  agent.  Its  successful 
use  depends  on  the  total  exclusion  of  air  from  the 
lungs  during  its  exhibition.  It  can  only  be  used 
for  a  short  time,  hence  it  is  chiefly  employed  in 
dental  operations,  although  it  has  been  given  for 
a  considerable  length  of  time  consecutively  by 
allowing  the  patient  to  return  to  the  verge  of  sen- 
sibility before  giving  a  fresh  dose. 


108  NEUROTIC    POISONS. 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
IXEBRIANTS. 

NEUROTICS     ACTING     ON     THE    BRAIN     AND     PRODrCING 
INTOXICATION. 

ALCOHOL — NITRO-BENZOLE COCCULUS    INDICUS 

FUNGI,    ETC. 

Alcohol. — Spiritous  liquors,  when  taken  in 
large  quantities,  not  unfrequently  produce  fatal 
effects. 

Two  wineglassfuls  of  brandy  proved  fatal  to  a 
boy,  seven  years  old,  in  thirty  hours.  Dr.  Taylor 
mentions  the  case  of  a  man  who  drank  two  bottles 
of  port  wine  (containing  eleven  ounces  of  alcohol) 
in  less  than  two  hours.  He  speedily  became  in- 
toxicated and  utterly  helpless,  never  rallied,  and 
died  from  congestion  of  the  brain  and  lungs. 
Another  man  who  swallowed  a  bottle  of  gin  for  a 
wager  died  in  half  an  hour,  although  much  of  the 
spirit  was  removed  by  the  stomach-pump.  A 
common  cause  of  acute  alcohol  poisoning  is 
"sucking  the  monkey,"  as  practiced  in  the  docks 
by  laborers  having  access  to  spirit  casks. 

The  sfftnptoma  generally  come  on  rapidly,  the 
individual  appearing  confused,  and  unable  to  walk 
steadily.  This  degree  of  intoxication  soon  passes 
into  the  stage  of  complete  stupor  and  coma,  and 
unless  there  is  vomiting  collapse  soon  sets  in.  In 
some  cases  a  remission  of  the  symptoms  has 
occurred,  death  being  postponed  for  a  day  or 
longer. 

As  the  alcohol  is  eliminated  by  the  lungs,  stu- 
por from  drink  ra\y  be  detected  by  the  odor  of  the 


NITRO-BENZOLE.  109 

breath.  The  countenance  is  usually  flushed,  and 
the  pupils  are  dilated,  but  in  cases  of  acute 
poisoning  the  patient  maj  be  deadly  pale.  The 
pupils  are  not  contracted,  as  in  poisoning  by 
opium ;  moreover,  the  individual  may  generally 
be  roused  for  a  few  moments  by  a  loud  noise,  &c. ; 
a  circumstance  which  may  prevent  intoxication 
being  mistaken  for  concussion  of  the  brain. 

Diluted  spirits  produce  a  state  of  excitement, 
terminating  in  stupor.  It  must  be  remembered 
that  alcoholic  liquids  have  been  frequently  made 
the  vehicles  of  more  virulent  poisons. 

As  regards  treatment,  it  is  only  necessary  to  say 
that  the  poison  is  to  be  removed  as  quickly  as 
possible  b}-^  the  stomach-pump.  Cold  affusion 
should  be  employed,  and  the  diluted  liquor  ammo- 
nite, or  carbonate  of  ammonia,  administered. 
Subsequently  warmth  must  be  promoted. 

Nituo-Benzole  axd  Aniline. — A  compound, 
made  from  the  rectified  products  of  coal  tar  and 
nitric  acid,  and  known  as  nitro-henzole,  is  some- 
times used  as  a  substitute  for  essential  oil  of 
almonds.  It  is  sold  to  perfumers  under  the  name 
of  '•  essence  of  mirbane."  A  lad  employed  in  some 
chemical  works  in  the  early  part  of  1862,  finding 
a  syphon  did  not  act,  sucked  through  it  some  of 
the  fluid,  which  happened  to  be  nitro-benzole. 
No  immediate  effect  resulted,  but  in  a  few  hours 
he  felt  as  if  he  were  drunk.  Stupor  came  on,  and 
ended  in  death  twelve  hours  after  swallowing  the 
poison.  Another  product  of  the  destructive  dis- 
tillation of  coal  in  gas-making  is  aniline,  (into 
which  nitro-benzole  is  converted  in  the  human 
body]  a  colorless,  limpid,  acrid,  and  poisonous 
liquid.  It  has  given  rise  to  very  alarming  symp- 
toms when  swallowed,  as  well  as  when  inhaled  in 
vapor,     It  produces  a  remarkable  blue  or  purple 

8 


110  NEUROTIC    POISONS. 

discoloration   of  the   body,   particularly   the   lips 
and  nails. 

CoccuLUS  Indicus. — The  kernel  of  the  berry  of 
the  Menispermum  cocculus,  or  Levant  nut,  im- 
ported from  the  East  Indies,  contains  from  one  to 
two  per  cent,  of  a  poisonous  principle  named 
picrotoxine.  Thieves  sometimes  mix  a  decoction 
or  extract  of  the  berries  with  si)irit5  or  beer,  to 
give  these  drinks  an  intoxicatino;  property  (hocus- 
sing).  Dishonest  publicans,  too.  first  reduce  their 
beer  by  means  of  salt  and  water,  and  afterwards 
give  it  intoxicating  properties  by  adding  cocculus 
extract.  The  same  substance  is  used  by  poachers 
to  destroy  fish.  The  symptoms  produced  appear 
to  be  a  peculiar  stupor,  a  complete  loss  of  volun- 
tary power,  with  a  consciousness  of  passing 
events. 

Darnel  Seeds  {Loliinn  tcmulenlum). — The  seeds 
of  this  plant,  which  is  often  found  growing  with 
corn  crops,  when  accidentally  mixed  in  consider- 
able quantity  with  wheat  or  rye,  and  ground  into 
flour,  have  caused  gastric  pain,  severe  giddiness, 
vomiting,  and  other  symtoms  of  intoxication. 
The  sufferers  complained  that  everything  seemed 
of  a  green  color.  A  wet  season  is  said  to  encour- 
age the  growth  of  darnel  with  the  varieties  of 
corn. 

Camphor. — This  substance  is  very  variable  in 
its  action.  It  has  given  rise  to  alarming  symp- 
toms on  some  occasions,  and  once  it  has  destroyed 
life.  In  scruple  and  half-drachm  doses,  it  seems 
to  have  produced  giddiness,  difficulty  in  walking, 
dimness  of  sight,  difficulty  of  breathing,  delirium, 
and  insensibility. 

The  stomach-pump  or  emetics  must  be  em- 
ployed. If  the  effects  are  not  very  severe  they 
will   generally  cease  spontaneously  after  a  tiiiic. 


FUNGI.  Ill 

The    odor   would   lead    to    the    detection    of  the 
poison. 

Fungi. — According  to  Berkeley  there  are  now 
upwards  of  2380  recognised  species  of  British 
fungi,  a  considerable  proportion  of  which  are 
doubtless  poisonous.  But  the  type  of  the  class 
may  be  taken  as  the  Amanita  muscaria.  This  is 
an  autumn  fungus  of  an  orange-red  color,  and  is 
used  among  the  Siberian  tribes,  especially  the 
Koraks,  as  an  intoxicating  agent,  and  produces 
symptoms  somewhat  similar  to  those  of  alcohol. 

The  Agaricus  campestris  and  esculentus  are 
those  most  frequently  used  as  articles  of  food,  on 
account  of  their  savory  properties  ;  but  even  these 
are  indigestible.  They  occasionall}'  produce  di- 
arrhoea, with  a  pruriginous  or  exanthematous  rash 
in  dyspeptics  :  and  should  only  be  eaten  in  great 
moderation. 

Ketchup^  the  juice  of  the  mushroom  flavored 
with  salt  and  spices,  has  produced  faiutness, 
nausea  and  colic,  lasting  for  some  hours. 

There  are  some  positive  characters  by  which 
the  wholesome  fungi  can  be  distinguished  from 
the  unwholesome.  Moreover  those  which  may  be 
eaten  with  impunity  by  some  individuals  prove 
destructive  to  others.  Thus,  a  French  officer  and 
his  wife  died  from  breakfasting  off  mushrooms 
which  others  in  the  house  ate  without  inconveni- 
ence. As  a  general  rule  highly  colored  mush- 
rooms, with  an  astringent  styptic  taste,  a  forbid- 
ding pungent  odor,  and  which  grow  in  dark  and 
shady  places,  should  be  avoided. 

The  symptoms  produced  by  poisonous  fungi  are 
not  unfrequently  those  indicative  of  gastro-in- 
testinal  irritation,  with  a  disordered  condition  of 
the  nervous  system,  and  considerable  depression; 
but,  again,  they  may  act  much  more  like  pure  uar- 


112  NEUROTIC    POISON'S. 

cotics.  In  treating  these  case,  the  stomach  and 
intestines  must  be  thoroughly  emptied,  and  then 
the  pronrinent  symptoms  are  to  be  relieved  ac- 
cordinor  to  their  urffencv. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 
DELIRAXTS. 

NEUROTICS    ACTING     OX     THE     BRAIX    AND    PRODUCING 
DELIRIUM. 

HYOSCYAMUS BELLADONNA STRAMONIUM DATURA 

ALBA NICIITSHADE. 

Most  of  tliese  are  not  very  important  substances, 
as  they  have  rarely  been  employed  as  poisons  in 
this  country.  Serious  symptoms  have,  however, 
resulted  from  their  accidental  use. 

Henbane  [J/i/oisci/timus  nijer), — All  parts  of  this 
plant  are  poisonous  ;  but  the  seeds  are  more 
powerful  than  the  root  or  leaves.  In  medicinal 
<loses  it  is  a  feeble  narcotic.  It  owes  its  powers 
to  an  alkaloid  [hjfoscyainia)  it  contains. 

In  very  large  doses  henbane  produces  giddiness, 
flushings,  excitement,  and  a  sense  of  weight  in 
the  head;  the  limbs  tremble,  and  there  is  general 
loss  of  power,  the  pupils  get  dilated,  there  is 
double  vision,  flashing  of  light  before  the  eyes, 
and  great  drowsiness.  If  vomiting  supervene 
these  symptoms  generally  pass  off;  otherwise  we 
may  find  fierce  delirium,  loss  of  speech,  complete 
loss  of  power  over  the  limbs,  cold  sweats,  and 
exhaustion. 


ATROPA    BELLADONNA.  113 

In  some  instances,  when  the  roots  have  been 
eaten  bj  mistake  for  parsnij^s,  the  sj-mptoms  have 
been  those  of  drunkenness  and  delirium.  Dr. 
Houlton  states  {Lancet,  6th  July,  1844)  that  this 
error  was  committed  one  night  at  a  monastery. 
The  monks  who  partook  of  the  roots  had  such 
hallucinations  that  the  establishment  resembled  a 
lunatic  asylum.  They  rang  the  bell  for  matins  at 
midnight,  and  those  who  attended  were  unable  to 
read,  or  they  read  that  which  was  not  in  the  book. 
In  another  reported  case  {Edin.  Med.  arid  Surg.  Jour- 
nalj  p.  562,  October,  1844),  the  roots  were  put  into 
soup,  of  which  nine  persons  partook.  Although 
no  unpleasant  flavor  was  noticed  at  the  time  of 
eating,  yet  very  shortly  afterwards  all  complained 
of  an  acrid  taste,  nausea,  indistinctness  of  vision, 
restlessness,  delirium,  and  great  somnolency, 
which  continued  some  time. 

The  appearances  found  after  death  consist 
chiefly  of  great  congestion  of  the  venous  system. 
The  lungs  and  brain  have  especially  been  found 
loaded  with  dark-colored  blood. 

To  prevent  a  fatal  result  from  the  use  of  hen- 
bane or  others  of  this  group,  we  must  trust  to 
stimulant  emetics,  as  sulphate  of  zinc,  and  full 
doses  of  castor  oil,  so  as  to  get  rid  of  the  offend- 
ing substance. 

Test. — The  only  test  for  hyoscyamus  is  the 
botanical  characters  of  the  plant,  when  taken  in 
substance,  and  its  power  (common  to  all  in 
this  group)  of  dilating  the  pupil. 

Atropa  Belladonna  [Deadly  Nightshade). — Two 
other  plants  known  under  the  name  of  Nightshade 
will  hereafter  be  referred  to.  The  Deadly  Night- 
shade, now  to  be  noticed,  is  indigenous,  and 
grows  in  woods  and  gardens.  The  root,  leaves, 
and  berries    are    poisonous,   this   property   being 


114  NEUROTIC    POISONS. 

due  to  the  presence  of  an  alkaloidal  principle — 
Alrojyia. 

Syinptoms. — Dryness  of  the  mouth  and  throat, 
thirst  which  nothino;  allays,  nausea  and  vomiting, 
great  dilatation  of  tlie  i)U])ils  with  indistinct  or 
double  vision,  giddiness,  palpitation  of  the  heart, 
physical  and  mental  depression.  i)erversion  of  the 
sense  of  taste,  and  delirium  followed  by  stupor, 
form  the  chief  symptoms.  They  may  set  in  within 
from  half  an  hour  to  three  or  four  hours  of  swal- 
lowing the  poison.  Sometimes  strangury  and 
bloody  urine,  a  scarlatinal  kind  of  rash  upon  the 
skin,  a  disposition  to  laugh  and  talk  wildly,  fanci- 
ful delusions,  a  rapid  flow  of  ideas,  and  difficulty 
in  walking,  have  been  observed. 

A  large  detachment  of  French  soldiers,  halting 
near  Dresden,  ate  freely  of  the  belladonna  berries. 
Shortly  afterwards  they  were  seized  with  nausea, 
thirst,  dryness  of  the  throat,  difficult  deglutition, 
insensibility  of  the  eye,  great  dilatation  of  the 
pupil,  delirium,  and  coma.  Many  of  the  men  died 
before  assistance  could  be  rendered  to  them. 

Post-mortem  Appearances. — Congestion  of  the 
cerebral  vessels,  dilated  pupils,  red  patches  at 
different  parts  of  the  alimentary  canal,  and  a 
dyed  purple  hue  of  the  gastric  mucous  membrane, 
if  the  berries  have  been  eaten,  are  the  most  com- 
mon appearances. 

Treatment. — Stimulant  emetics,  castor  oil,  and 
animal  charcoal  are  the  remedies  to  trust  to. 

Dr.  Taylor  refers  to  one  case  in  which  a  young 
man  poisoned  himself  with  two  grains  of  atropia. 
He  took  the  dose  on  going  to  bed,  was  heard  to 
snore  heavily  during  the  night,  and  was  found 
dead  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

As  a  means  of  diagnosing  poisoning  by  bella- 
donna it  has   been  recommended   to   introduce  a 


STRAMONIUM.  115 

few  drops  of  urine  into  tlie  eye  of  an  animal,  to 
see  if  dilatation  of  the  pupil  takes  place. 

Test. — There  is  no  very  certain  test  for  Atropia 
beyond  its  effect  on  the  pupils  and  on  vision. 

Stramonium  (Datura  Stramofiiutn,  Thorn-Apple) 
is  an  indigenous  plant  found  in  waste  places.  The 
fruit  and  seeds  are  the  most  poisonous  parts  of 
the  plant.  The  active  alkaloid,  named  Daturia, 
has  i^roperties  resembling  those  of  atropia,  with 
which  it  would  seem  to  be  almost  identical. 

The  poisonous  effects  of  stramonium  are  the 
same  as  those  of  belladonna,  and  are  to  be  re- 
lieved by  similar  remedies.  When  this  drug  is 
prescribed  as  a  medicine  it  should  be  immediately 
discontinued  if  it  produce  dryness  of  the  throat 
and  dilatation  of  the  pupils. 

Dhatoora. — In  India  the  seeds  of  the  Datura 
alba,  a  plant  which  grows  abundantly  in  most 
parts,  are  frequently  used  for  the  purpose  of 
hocussing  travellers,  in  order  that  they  may  be 
robbed  with  impunity.  The  seeds,  which  closely 
resemble  those  of  the  capsicum,  are  mixed  with 
food,  and  give  rise  to  total  insensi])ility  on  the 
part  of  the  recipient,  often  with  noisy  delirium  or 
delusions.  Death  is  not  unfrequent  after  a  large 
dose,  although  it  would  seldom  seem  to  be  admin- 
istered for  that  purpose.  Its  effect  may  be  for  the 
time  being  to  completely  alter  the  disposition  of 
the  individual,  and  to  cause  him  to  give  way  to  all 
kinds  of  foolish  notions  and  antics. 

Nightshade. — The  Solamun  dulcamara  (Bitter- 
sweet, or  AVoody  Nightshade)  and  the  Solanuni 
nigrum  (Garden  Nightshade)  contain  an  active 
principle  known  as  Solania.  The  red  berries  of 
the  first-named  plant,  and  the  black  berries  of  the 
second,  have  been  eaten  by  mistake  ;  and  have 
given    rise   to   great  thirst,   headache,  giddiness, 


IIG  NEUROTIC    POISON'S. 

dimness  of  vision,  dilated  pnpils,  convulsions, 
voraitingf.  and  jinreing.  Orfila  relates  the  cases 
of  three  children  who  died  from  eatinfjthe  berries 
of  the  kSolannm  niofrum.  after  suffering  from  ver- 
tigo, dilated  jiupils.  nausea,  colic,  stertorous 
breathinsr,  and  convulsions. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 
CONVULSIVES. 

NEUROTICS    PRODUCING    CONVULSIONS. 
NUX    VOMICA BRUCIA STRYCHNIA. 

The  plants  which  vield  the  alkaloid  iStrychuia 
are.  the  Strtfchno.'!  mix  vomica,  a  native  tree  of 
(.^oromandel.  Ceylon  and  Bengal :  the  Sfrj/chnos 
Jijnatii,  which  abounds  in  the  Philippine  Islands, 
and  furnishes  tlie  hard  seed,  alioiit  the  size  of  a 
filbert,  known  as  the  bean  of  St.  Ignatius;  the 
Si'rf/chno.s  tietife,  A  large  climbing  shrub  of  Java; 
the  Sln/chnos  fozi/era,  of  Guiana  :  and  the  Stn/ch- 
nos  colubrina.  or  Snaketcood^  of  the  East  Indies. 
The  effects  of  these  plants  are  exerted  upon  the 
spinal  cord  ;  as  is  manifest  by  the  violent  convul- 
sions and  the  tetanic  contractions  of  the  muscles 
which  they  produce.  They  have  no  effect  on  the 
brain,  consciousness  remaining  intact  until  death. 

A  powerful  juice,  used  by  the  Indians  of  Guiana 
a«  an  arrow  poison,  and  variously  designated  as 
curare,  troorara,  &c.,  is  in  all  probability  obtained 
from  the  Strychnos  toxifera.  The  composition  of 
the  arrow  poison  varies  in  different  tribes  :  in  some 
it  is  a  mysterious  compound  of  many  substances, 


NUX    VOMICA,    BRUCIA,    STRYCnXIA.  117 

obtained  from  plants,  red  and  black  ants,  and  the 
fangs  of  venomous  snakes;  but  in  all  the  active 
ingredient  would  seem  to  be  the  Strychnos  toxi- 
fera.  It  destroys  the  power  of  the  motor  nerves 
— an  action  the  reverse  of  that  possessed  by 
strychnia. 

Nux  Vomica. — A  powder,  a  tincture,  and  an  ex- 
tract, obtained  from  the  seeds  of  the  Strychnos 
nux  vomica,  or  koochla  tree,  are  used  in  medical 
practice.  Thirty  grains  of  the  powder  have  proved 
fatal,  and  so  have  three  grains  of  the  alcoholic 
extract.  Death  may  occur  in  from  fifteen  minutes 
to  twelve  hours.  It  is  possible  that  nux  vomica 
may  accumulate  in  the  system,  as  serious  symp- 
toms have  arisen  from  the  long-continued  use  of 
small  doses.  Thus  a  lady  took  nine  grains  of  the 
powder  daily,  in  divided  doses,  for  sixteen  days. 
As  purging  then  set  in  with  colic,  the  medicine 
was  withdrawn.  Five  days  after  the  withdrawal 
there  was  ringing  in  the  ears,  with  drowsiness, 
impairment  of  speech,  &c.  ;  on  the  ninth  day 
tetanic  symptoms  set  in,  with  trismus  ;  and  on  the 
tAvelfth  day,  after  several  tetanic  convulsions, 
death  took  place  from  exhaustion. 

Brucia. — The  seeds  of  the  nux  vomica  not  only 
yield  strychnia  but  brucia,  an  alkaloid  which  has 
the  same  properties,  and  causes  t])e  same  symp- 
toms as  strychnia,  though  it  is  much  less  powerful. 

Strychnia. — This  alkaloid  may  very  justly  be 
termed  a  deadly  poison.  It  is  unfortunately  the 
active  ingredient  of  some  preparations  sold  to  the 
public  for  destroying  vermin :  a  circumstance 
which  has  now  led  to  the  death  of  several  indi- 
viduals. "Battle's  Vermin  Killer"  is  said  by  Dr. 
Letheby  to  consist  of  flour,  Prussian  blue,  sugar, 
and  strychnia  in  the  proportion  of  twentj'-three  per 
cent.     Since  the  use  of  strychnia  by  those  uotori- 


118  NEUROTIC    POISONS. 

ous  criminals  Palmer  and  Dove,  this  formidable 
agent  has  been  employed  by  other  murderers. 

The  medicinal  dose  of  strychnia  is  from  the 
^\yth  to  the  y\yth  of  a  grain  twice  a  day.  Dr. 
Christison  communicated  a  case  to  Dr.  Taylor  in 
which  the  J^tli  of  a  grain  caused  the  death  in  four 
hours  of  a  child  between  two  and  three  years  of 
age.  One  quarter  of  a  grain  has  nearly  proved 
latal  to  adults.  A  woman  twenty-two  years  of  age 
died  in  the  Jersey  Hospital,  from  the  accidental 
administration  of  half  a  grain.  Death  has  occur- 
red in  twenty  minutes  from  this  poison.  In  eleven 
cases  analyzed  by  Dr.  Guy  two  hours  and  three- 
quarters  were  the  limits  respectively. 

Si/mp(oms. — The  time  at  which  the  symptoms 
commence  varies  according  as  the  strychnia  has 
been  taken  in  solution  or  in  a  pill.  In  the  first 
case  a  very  bitter  taste  is  experienced  during 
swallowing,  usually  followed  in  a  few  minutes  by 
a  sense  of  suffocation  and  difficulty  of  breathing. 
Then  there  are  twitchings  of  the  muscles,  jerking 
movements  of  the  limits,  and  a  quivering  of  the 
whole  frame.  The  limbs  become  rigid,  the  head 
is  bent  back,  while  the  body  is  stiffened  and 
arched,  so  that  it  rests  on  the  head  and  heels 
(opisthotonos).  The  difficulty  of  breathing  causes 
the  face  to  become  dusky,  the  eyeballs  prominent, 
and  the  lips  livid.  The  features  assume  a  peculiar 
grin  (risus  sardonicus) ;  there  is  much  thirst,  but 
perhaps  inability  to  drink  from  spasm  of  the  jaws; 
while  the  sufferer  is  quite  conscious,  is  much 
alarmed,  and  is  impressed  with  the  idea  that  death 
is  surely  stealing  upon  him.  As  the  attacks  of 
spasms  are  commencing  the  patient  cries  out,  and 
warns  those  about  him  of  the  approach  of  the 
seizure  ;  he  begs  for  help,  and  perhaps  asks  to  be 
held,  or   rubbed,  or   turned   over  :  and    when  the 


STRYCHNIA.  119 

seizure  passes  off,  at  the  end  of  forty  or  sixty 
seconds,  he  is  exhausted,  and  bathed  in  sweat. 
The  more  he  is  disturbed  or  excited  the  shorter  is 
the  intervals  between  the  attacks  ;  and  thougli  a 
firm  grasp  seems  to  afford  relief,  yet  a  slight  touch, 
a  gust  of  air,  or  opening  a  door,  will  increase  the 
suffering.  As  death  approaches  the  tetanic  spasms 
rapidly  succeed  e.ach  other;  and  the  patient  sinks, 
suffocated  during  an  attack,  or  exhausted  during 
an  interval,  in  about  two  hours  from  the  beginning 
of  the  symptoms. 

When  the  strychnia  has  been  taken  in  a  pill  two 
hours  have  elapsed  before  any  effects  have  been 
produced.  A  case  is  also  reported  [Glasgow  Medi- 
cal Journal^  Ji^ily,  1856)  where  a  medical  man  took 
three  grains  of  strychnia  dissolved  in  spirits  of 
wine  and  diluted  sulphuric  acid.  He  went  to  bed 
and  slept  for  an  hour  and  a  half,  and  then  awoke 
with  a  spasm.     Under  treatment  he  recovered. 

There  is  commonly  a  wide  difference  between 
tetanus  arising  from  a  wound  or  from  disease  and 
that  provoked  by  strychnia.  In  the  former  case 
some  exciting  cause  can  be  detected  ;  the  symptoms 
come  on  gradually,  and  onl}^  attain  their  full  de- 
velopment at  the  end  of  several  hours  ;  the  rigidity 
of  the  muscles  is  more  or  less  permanent,  there 
being  no  intervals  of  relaxation  as  there  are  in 
poisoning;  and  death  has  hardly  been  known  to 
occur  in  less  than  twenty-four  hours,  while  fre- 
quently it  is  deferred  for  two  or  three  days. 

Post-mortem  Appearances. — Although  the  body 
may  be  relaxed  at  the  time  of  death  it  usually  qu  ickly 
stiffens — frequently  in  the  course  of  ten  or  fifteen 
minutes.  The  rigor  mortis  is  persistent  for  some 
time  :  in  the  case  of  Cook,  poisoned  by  Palmer, 
the  rigidity  of  the  body  and  limbs  was  said  not 
to  have  passed  off  after  two  months'   interment. 


120  NECROTIC    POISONS. 

This  is  not  however  invariable,  as  a  body  may  be 
flaccid  or  stiff  after  death  from  this  cause  as  from 
any  other.  Tlie  liands  are  often  clenched,  and 
the  soles  of  the  feet  arched  and  inverted.  The 
membranes  of  the  brain  and  of  the  upper  part  of 
the  spinal  cord  are  congested  ;  and  there  is  often 
considerable  serous  effusions  under  the  spinal 
arachnoid.  The  lungs  are  generally  loaded  with 
dark  fluid  blood.  The  heart  is  usually  contracted, 
but  sometimes  the  right  cavities  are  distended  like 
the  pulmonary  vessels.  The  blood  has  been  found 
black  and  liquid. 

Treatment. — Emetics  are  to  be  given  at  once,  and 
repeated  until  very  free  vomiting  is  induced.  If 
the  tetanic  spasms  have  not  commenced,  the 
stomach-pump  ought  to  be  used.  Chloroform  is 
to  be  given  to  relieve  spasm  and  pain,  but  the 
patient  should  be  disturbed  as  little  as  possible, 
as  the  least  thing  induces  the  tetanic  attack. 
There  is  no  very  suitable  antidote,  but  tannic 
acid,  in  the  form  of  green  or  black  tea,  &c.,  might 
be  given. 

Iodine  forms  a  crystallizable  compound  with 
strychnia.  Dr.  Bennett,  of  Sydney,  has  recorded 
an  instance  in  which  he  attributed  recovery  to  the 
employment  of  tincture  of  iodine.  Hence  from 
thirty  minims  to  a  drachm  of  this  tincture  com- 
bined with  the  iodide  of  potassium  may  be  ex- 
hibited. In  its  absence,  three  or  four  ounces  of 
animal  charcoal,  diffused  through  water,  ought  to 
be  given. 

To  prevent  the  spasms  by  paralyzing  the  motor 
nerves,  a  solution  of  curare  has  been  recom- 
mended by  Dr.  George  Harley  to  be  injected 
under  the  skin  ;  or,  if  it  could  be  obtained,  the 
active  principle  of  this  substance,  curarina,  would 
perhaps  be  deserving  of  trial. 


STRYCHNIA.  121 

The  patient  is  to  be  kept  warm  and  quiet. 

To  separate  strychnia  from  organic  admixture 
the  process  modified  from  Stas,  given  in  the  begin- 
ning of  this  book,  is  the  most  useful. 

Tests. — Strychnia  is  a  white  crystalline  solid, 
ver}-  insoluble  in  water,  soluable  in  alcohol  or 
chloroform  or  weak  acids,  and  having  an  intensely 
bitter  taste. 

1.  Pure  strychnia  is  not  changed  in  color  when 
treated  with  iodic  acid  or  with  either  of  the  strong 
mineral  acids;  but  as  this  alkaloid  generally  con- 
tains brucia,  nitric  acid  reddens  it. 

2.  Dissolved  in  sulphuric  acid  no  change  ensues  ; 
but  on  adding  a  fragment  of  bichromate  of  potass 
to  the  solution  a  series  of  blue,  violet,  purple  and 
red  tints  are  produced.  The  same  result  is  brought 
about  by  using  ferricyanide  of  potassium,  perman- 
ganate of  potassium,  the  peroxide  of  lead,  or  the 
black  oxide  of  manganese. 

3.  If  the  skin  of  a  frog  be  dried,  and  a  few  drops 
of  a  solution  containing  strychnia  applied  to  it, 
strong  tetanic  convulsions  will  ensue,  and  be  re- 
produced every  time  the  animal  is  touched  or 
irritated.  According  to  Dr.  Marshall  Hall  this 
strychnoscopic  test  will  detect  the  ^o^oo^^^  ^^  ^ 
grain,  or  even  less. 

4.  An  exceedingly  useful  class  of  tests  for  many 
poisons  has  been  introduced  by  Dr.  Guy ;  we 
mean  the  crystalline  appearances  presented  on 
subliming  the  substance  and  condensing  it  on  a 
cool  microscopic  slide,  or  the  crystalline  form  ob- 
served as  modified  by  various  reagents.  Thus  the 
strychnine  sublimate,  touched  with  a  dropof  car- 
bazotic  acid,  forms  groups  of  arborescent  crystals, 
each  branch  forming  part  of  a  circle,  when  seen 
under  the  microscope. 


122  NEUROTIC    POISONS. 

CHAPTER  XXVir. 
HYPOSTHENISANTS. 

NEUROTICS  PRODUCING  DEATH  BY  SYNCOPE. 
ACONITE — PRUSSIC  ACID. 

Aconite  {Aconitum  Xapellm^^  Monkshood,  ^]'olfs- 
bane,  Blue  Jiockcf). — This  beautiful  plant  is  found 
in  most  parts  of  Europe. 

Aconida,  tlie  alkaloidal  base  of  the  plant,  is  the 
most  deadly  poison  known  :  the  fiftieth  part  of  a 
grain  having  nearly  caused  death. 

The  chief  ><if/)ipfoms  of  poisoning  by  aconite  are 
numbness  and  tingling  in  the  mouth  and  throat, 
giddiness,  abolition  of  muscular  power,  pain  in  the 
abdomen.  Avith  vomiting  and  purging.  Some- 
times delirium  and  slight  stupor  have  been  noticed. 
The  pupils  are  usually  dilated,  the  skin  is  cold, 
the  pulse  exceedingly  feeble,  the  breathing  op- 
pressed, and  there  is  a  dread  of  approaching 
dissolution.  Frequently  the  sufferer  is  perfectly 
conscious,  though  paralyzed,  till  death  suddenly 
occurs  after  two  or  three  hurried  gasps.  Accord- 
ing to  Dr.  Fleming,  death  may  be  due  to  a  seda- 
tive impression  on  the  nervous  system,  or  to 
asphyxia  from  paralysis  of  the  respirator}-  muscles, 
or  to  syncope. 

A  fatal  mistake  is  not  vcr}-  uncommonly  made 
in  eating  the  root  of  aconite  for  that  of  horse- 
radish. The  sense  of  tingling  and  numbness  pro- 
duced by  the  former  is  so  different  from  the 
pungent  taste  of  the  latter  that  with  due  care 
no  mistake  should  occur,  except  the  plants  be 
allowed  to  grow  together,  which  should  never  be 
done. 


HYDROCYANIC    ACID.  123 

A  case  occurred  in  Ireland  ^yhere  a  woman 
poisoned  one  man  and  nearly  killed  another  by 
sprinkling  powdered  aconite  root  over  a  dish  of 
greens. 

Of  the  root  one  drachm,  of  the  tincture  one 
drachm,  and  of  the  alcoholic  extract  four  grains, 
have  caused  death.  Death  follows  a  considerable 
dose  in  less  than  an  hour,  but  sometimes  a  longer 
period  elapses. 

The  Bikh  poison,  formerly  much  used  in  India, 
and  still  not  unfrequently  employed,  has  as  its 
basis  the  Aconitum  ferox,  a  still  more  dangerous 
drug  than  our  indigenous  plant. 

"Preatmcnt. — No  time  must  be  lost  in  the  use  of 
remedies.  In  addition  to  emetics,  castor  oil,  and 
animal  charcoal,  benefit  may  be  derived  from  ad- 
ministering strong  coffee.  Brand}-  or  ammonia 
should  also  be  given,  while  the  limbs  and  back 
are  well  rubbed  with  hot  towels.  Artificial  respi- 
ration might  prove  useful. 

There  is  no  good  test  for  aconitia. 

Hydrocyanic  Acid  [Prussic  Acid),  on  account  of 
its  energetic  and  rapid  action,  is  one  of  the  most 
formidable  poisons  with  which  we  are  acquainted. 
In  its  concentrated  state  it  is  a  limpid  colorless 
liquid;  possessing  a  somewhat  acrid  taste,  and 
having  an  odor,  when  diffused  through  the  air, 
resembling  that  of  oil  of  bitter  almonds.  When 
diluted  with  water,  it  forms  the  acid  kept  by  the 
druggist.  The  properties  of  this  variet}-  are 
similarto  those  of  the  pure  form  ;  except  that,  if 
kept  in  the  dark,  it  is  not  so  readily  decomposed. 
It  is  in  this  condition  that  it  is  used  as  a  poison. 
The  diluted  acid  of  the  British  Pharmacopoeia 
contains  about  2  per  cent.,  and  that  known  as 
Scheele's  from  4  to  5  per  cent.,  of  the  strong 
acid  :  but  all  var}'  greatly  with  keeping. 


124  NEUROTIC    POISONS. 

One  of  the  salts  of  hydrocyanic  acid,  the  cyanide 
of  potassium,  claims  a  short  notice,  since  it  is 
large!}-  employed  by  photographers,  workers  in 
eiectrotype,  &c.  It  has  been  taken  as  a  poison. 
Thi:;  salt  is  sold  in  the  form  of  deliquescent  white 
crystals,  or  in  crystalline  masses,  which  are  very 
soluble'  in  water,  and  possess  the  odor  of  prussic 
acid.  From  three  to  five  grains  will  destroy  life 
almost  as  rapidly  as  prussic  acid  itself,  and  in  the 
same  manner:  a  dose  of  five  grains  has  proved 
fatal. 

Several  vegetable  substances  yield  prussic  acid, 
such  as  the  kernels  of  the  peach,  apricot,  necta- 
rine, cherry,  &c.,  the  leaves  of  the  cherry  laurel, 
and  the  pips  of  apples  and  pears.  Cases  of  alarm- 
ing illness  have  occurred  from  eating  bitter  almonds 
too  freely;  while  the  essential  oil  obtained  by 
distilling  the  pulp  of  these  almonds  with  water  is 
a  powerful  poison.  This  essence  or  oil  of  bitter 
almonds  contains  about  ten  per  cent,  of  anhydrous 
prussic  acid  ;  and  it  is  probable  that  from  ten  to 
thirty  drops  would  prove  fatal  to  an  adult.  The 
prussic  acid  may,  however,  be  separated  from  it, 
and  leave  the  oil  harmless. 

A  distilled  water  obtained  from  the  leaves  of 
the  cherry  laurel,  which  was  formerly  employed 
in^  medicine,  proved  dangerous  from  its  very 
variable  strength  ;  it  has  been  used  as  a  poison. 
In  the  well-known  case  of  Sir  Theodosius  Bough- 
ton,  poisoned  by  Captain  Donellan  in  1781,  laurel 
xcater  produced  death  within  half  an  hour  after 
two  ounces  had  been  swallowed. 

The  smallest  quantity  of  prussic  acid  which  has 
been  known  to  destroy  life  is  nine-tenths  of  a 
grain  of  the  anhydrous  acid,  equal  to  forty-five 
minims  of  the  diluted  preparation  of  the  British 
PharmacopaMa  ;  and  it  is  probable  that  this  would. 


HYDROCYANIC    ACID.  125 

in  most  instances,  prove  fatal.  In  the  case  re- 
ferred to  death  occurred  in  twenty  minutes ;  but 
from  a  larger  dose  it  has  ensued  much  earlier. 
The  period  may  be  said  to  vary  from  two  to  five 
and  forty  minutes.  Insensibility  may,  however, 
come  on  in  a  few  seconds.  In  the  case  of  seven 
epileptics  accidentally  poisoned  at  the  Bicetre, 
death  occurred  in  the  first  within  twenty  minutes, 
in  the  last  after  thi-ee-quarters  of  an  hour,  though 
the  dose  of  the  acid  was  the  same  in  each  instance. 
S>/77iptoms. — These  will  vary  with  the  dose  and 
the  mode  of  exhibition.  Inhalation  of  the  vapor 
of  anhydrous  prussic  acid  would  immediately 
cause  death.  The  vapor  of  the  diluted  acid  has 
given  rise  to  serious  symptoms  with  great  rapidity. 
Seheele  is  said  to  have  been  suddenly  killed  by 
respiring  the  vapor  of  the  dilute  acid  Avhile  making 
his  experiments. 

When  the  diluted  acid  is  taken  in  a  large  dose 
the  symptoms  may  commence  during  swallowing, 
death  following  so  quickly  that  scarcely  any 
cfi'ects  can  be  observed.  The  chief  symptoms, 
perhaps,  are  insensibility,  slow  gasping,  or  con- 
vulsive respiration,  a  clammy  cold  skin,  fixed  and 
glistening  eyes,  dilated  pupils,  spasmodic  closure 
of  the  jaws,  an  almost  imperceptible  pulse,  and 
sometimes  convulsions  of  the  limbs  and  trunk. 
The  rapidity  with  which  consciousness  is  lost  is 
well  exemplified  in  an  instance  recorded  by  Ilufe- 
land.  where  a  man  about  to  be  apprehended  as  a 
thief  took  an  ounce  of  the  acid,  staggered  a  few 
steps  and  fell  apparently  lifeless.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments a  single  violent  respiration  was  made,  and 
within  fire  minutes  of  taking  the  poison  he  was 
dead. 

Insensibility  is  not,  however,  in  all  instances, 
immediately    produced ;    many   an    authenticated 


126  NEUROTIC    POISOXS. 

case  having  occurred  in  which  the  symptoms  were 
protracted  for  some  minutes,  the  individual  per- 
forming several  acts  indicating  consciousness, 
such  as  replacing  the  cork  in  the  bottle,  adjusting 
the  bed-clothes,  or  even  running  some  distance  to 
summon  help. 

The  utterance  of  a  shriek  has  been  said  to  be 
characteristic  of  poisoning  by  this  acid;  but  toxi- 
cologists  know  that  such  has  not  been  observed  in 
the  hnraan  subject,  and  that  there  is  merely  a 
gasping  for  breath,  or  perhaps  a  call  for  help. 

A  small  dose  produces  faintness,  insensibility, 
difficulty  of  breathing,  involuntary  evacuations, 
loss  of  muscular  power,  convulsions,  and  tempo- 
rary paralysis.  If  the  proper  treatment  be  em- 
ployed, recovery  may  often  be  effected. 

Post-mortem  Appearances. — The  body  is  gener- 
ally livid,  the  countenance  pallid,  or  sometimes 
livid  and  bloated,  the  jaws  firmly  closed,  and  the 
hands  clenched.  There  is  frequently  blood  or 
froth  about  the  mouth,  and  the  eyes  are  sometimes 
described  as  prominent  and  glistening.  There  is 
often  an  odor  of  prussic  acid  about  the  body, 
which  is  more  perceptible  on  opening  the  stomach. 
The  venous  system  is  usually  gorged  with  blood  ; 
and  the  brain,  lungs,  heart,  liver,  spleen,  and  kid- 
neys have  been  found  congested  with  dark-colored 
fluid  blood. 

Treatment. — There  is  no  chemical  antidote  to 
this  poison  which  can  be  relied  upon.  Chlorine 
and  the  mixed  oxides  of  iron  have  been  recom- 
mended ;  but  even  if  one  of  these  agents  happened 
to  be  at  hand,  it  is  doubtful  if  its  employment 
could  be  timely  enough  to  be  advantageous. 
Attempts  must  be  made  to  restore  animation  by 
cold  affusion,  stimulating  frictions  to  the  chest 
and  abdomen,   warmth  to   the    surface,   and  the 


HYDROCYANIC    ACID.  127 

jipplication  of  ammonia  to  the  nostrils.  Cold 
aflfusion  over  the  head  and  neck  has  proved  most 
efficacious  when  promptly  resorted  to,  and  re- 
peated at  short  intervals  so  as  to  cause  a  shock. 
The  direct  injection  of  liquor  ammonise  into  the 
veins,  as  proposed  by  Professor  Halford,  for  snake 
bite,  might  be  tried  if  the  means  were  at  hand. 
As  soon  as  possible  ammonia  should  be  given 
internally  and  the  stomach  emptied. 

If  recovery  ensue  from  the  immediate  effects, 
vomiting  should  be  produced  by  emetics  or  other- 
wise, after  which  strong  coffee,  with  brandy,  ought 
to  be  administered. 

Tests. — The  best  are  the  following : 

When  hydrocyanic  acid  has  to  be  separated 
from  organic  substances,  such  as  the  contents  of 
the  stomach,  it  is  usual  to  take  advantage  of  its 
ready  volatility.  If  the  acid  be  not  in  combination 
it  may  be  given  off  so  readily  as  to  be  detected  by 
a  watch  glass  moistened  with  nitrate  of  silver  held 
over  the  vessel  containing  the  acid  ;  but  in  order 
to  make  sure  of  its  presence  or  absence  the  follow- 
ing process  should  be  adopted.  The  suspected 
material  should  be  acidulated  with  pure  sulphuric 
acid  so  as  to  insure  the  prussic  acid  being  in  a 
free  state.  The  substances  thus  acidulated  are  to 
be  placed  in  a  retort,  distilled  over  a  water  bath, 
and  the  distillate  collected  in  a  cool  receiver  con- 
taining some  caustic  potass.  About  one-sixth  of 
the  fluid  substance  should  in  this  way  be  distilled 
over,  when  the  liquid  in  the  receiver  may  be  test- 
ed by  the  silver  or  iron  tests,  or  the  vapor  as  it 
passes  over  may  be  tried  with  the  sulphur  test. 

1.  The  peculiar  odor  of  prussic  acid  is  well 
known,  and  is  a  very  delicate  test,  taken  in  con- 
junction with  others,  of  its  presence. 

2.  The  Silver  Test. — Nitrate  of  silver  yields,  with 


128  NEUROTIC    POISONS. 

hydrocyanic  acid  or  cyanide  of  potassium,  a  white 
clotted  precipitate,  (cyanide  of  silver,)  insoluble 
in  cold  but  soluble  in  boiling  nitric  acid.  If  this 
precipitate  be  well  dried  and  heated,  cyanogen  gas 
will  be  given  off,  which  may  be  known  by  its 
burning  with  a  purplish  flame.  This  test  is  very 
delicate. 

3.  The  Iron  Test. — Of  the  liquid  collected  in  the 
receiver  above-mentioned,  or  the  suspected  acid 
liquid,  saturated  with  a  few  drops  of  caustic  potass, 
a  portion  is  to  be  taken,  and  to  this  is  to  be  added 
a  small  quantity  of  a  solution  of  sulphate  of  iron. 
A  dirty  brownish  or  greenish  precipitate  will  fall, 
consisting  of  a  mixture  of  the  oxide  of  iron  and 
Prussian  blue.  On  adding  a  few  drops  of  diluted 
sulphuric  or  hydrochloric  acid,  and  thus  dis- 
solving the  oxides,  the  prussian  blue  will  immedi- 
ately be  made  clear  if  hydrocyanic  acid  be  present. 

4.  The  Copper  Test. — Sulphate  of  copper  added 
to  prussic  acid  rendered  slightly  alkaline  by  potass, 
gives  a  greenish-white  precipitate,  which  becomes 
white  by  the  addition  of  a  few  drops  of  hydro- 
chloric acid  to  dissolve  the  blue  precipitated  oxide 
of  copper. 

5.  llie  Sulphur  Test. — One  of  the  most  useful 
tests  for  prussic  acid,  whether  in  the  fluid  or  vola- 
tile state,  is  the  so-called  sulphur  or  Liebig's  test. 
It  is  best  adapted  for  detecting  the  acid  in  a  state 
of  vapor,  and  to  this  end  a  drop  of  yellow  sulphide 
of  ammonium  in  a  watch-glass  is  held  over  the 
suspected  liquid,  Avhich  may  be  warmed  by  the 
hand  to  facilitate  the  evolution  of  the  acid.  In 
this  })osition  the  watch-glass  should  be  allowed  to 
remain  for  some  little  time,  after  which  a  drop  of 
solution  of  perchloride  of  iron  is  to  be  added,  which 
will  give  rise  to  a  blood-red  color  not  discharged 
bv  corrosive  sublimate. 


DIGITALIS.  129 

If  the  acid  is  in  the  liquid  form  a  drop  of  the 
prussic  acid  and  the  yellow  sulphide  may  be  mixed 
and  heated  until  they  thoroughly  combine.  A  drop 
of  sulphate  of  iron  is  then  added  as  before,  but  all 
the  sulphide  must  be  decomposed  or  a  black 
sulphide  of  iron  will  be  produced,  even  though 
prussic  acid  be  present,  instead  of  the  ordinary 
blood-red  color. 

Other  substances  give  a  similar  reaction  with 
iron  ;  but  their  color  is  discharged  by  corrosive 
sublimate. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
DEPRESSAXTS. 


neurotics  producing  marked  depression  of   the 
heart's  action. 

digitalis — calabar  bean tobacco hemlock. 

Digitalis  Purpurea  [Purple  Foxglove). — The 
seeds,  leaves,  and  root  of  this  indigenous  hedge- 
plant  are  poisonous.  Digitalin  is  the  principle 
which  these  parts  contain.  The  officinal  infusion 
of  digitalis,  made  from  the  dried  leaves,  is  used  in 
doses  of  ^ij,  ^ss,  or  more  ;  of  the  tincture  m.  v  to 
m.  xl  are  usually  given.  On  the  recommendation 
of  the  late  Mr.  Jones,  of  Jersey,  half  an  ounce  of 
the  tincture  is  sometimes  administered  in  cases  of 
delirium  tremens :  this  dose  being  repeated  a 
second  or  even  a  third  time,  in  the  course  of  six 
or  eight  hours. 

Digitalis  is  ver}'  uncertain  in  its  action.  "When 
given  medicinally  its   effects  should   be  watched, 


130  NEUROTIC    POISONS. 

as  in  some  cases  it  probably  accumulates  in  the 
system,  but  in  others,  especially  in  heart  disease, 
it  may  be  given  for  months  or  years  without  hurt, 
and  even  with  advantage.  A  poisonous  dose 
seems  to  produce  vomiting,  purging,  colic,  head- 
ache, slowness  and  extreme  irregularity  of  pulse, 
dimness  of  vision,  dilated  pupils,  lethargy,  pros- 
tration, convulsions,  and  coma.  In  two  instances 
death  occurred  within  twenty-two  hours.  The 
appearances  found  afterwards  have  been  chiefly 
congestion  of  the  cerebral  vessels  and  slight  in- 
flammation of  the  stomach. 

Diijilalin  has  acquired  a  certain  importance  from 
the  trial  and  execution  of  De  La  Pommerais  for 
poisoning  the  widow  Pauw  by  its  means.  The 
facts  were  altogether  inconsistent  with  his  inno- 
cence, and  though  digitaline  was  not  separated 
from  the  woman's  body,  yet  extracts  of  the  vom- 
ited matters  killed  dogs  with  the  symptoms  of 
poisoning  by  digitalis.  The  extracts  obtained 
from  the  stomach  and  bowels  did  not  prove  fatal. 
Tardieu  and  Roussin.  who  were  engaged  on  the 
case,  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  Avoman  had 
been  poisoned  by  some  vegetable  poison,  probably 
digitaline.  The  womans  symptoms,  which  were 
not,  however,  carefully  noted,  were  violent  vomit- 
ing and  extreme  depression. 

In  addition  to  the  administration  of  emetics  and 
castor  oil,  some  infusion  containing  tannin,  as 
strong  tea,  <fcc.,  should  be  given  as  an  antidote  in 
poisoning  by  digitalis.  Substances  containing 
tannin  render  the  digitalin  inert.  Strong  tea  or 
coffee,  with  brandy,  will  likewise  be  needed,  to 
lessen  the  depression  and  exhaustion. 

Calab.\r  Beax  iPhysostigma  venenosum). — This 
bean,  which  grows  on  the  West  Coast  of  Africa, 
is  generally  used  as  an  ordeal.     According  to  the 


TOBACCO.  131 

superstition  of  the  natives  the  innocent  I'orait  and 
are  safe,  the  guilty  die.  Its  most  characteristic 
effect  is  contraction  of  the  pupil.  It  seems  to  act 
by  paralyzing  the  motor  muscles,  leaving  the 
senses  intact.  There  is  great  interference  with 
the  heart's  action,  it  beating  tumultuously,  but 
death  seems  to  follow  paralysis  of  the  muscles  of 
respiration.  In  some  cases,  one  fatal,  occurring 
in  Liverpool,  thei-e  was  much  vomiting. 

Tobacco  [Nicotiana  tabacum)  — All  parts  of  this 
plant  are  very  poisonous.  An  infusion  of  the 
leaves,  exhibited  as  an  enema,  has,  on  several 
occasions,  speedily  proved  fatal.  Persons  in  at- 
tempting to  acquire  the  habit  of  smoking  often 
suffer  from  severe  nausea,  vomiting,  great  pros- 
tration, and  insensibility  ;  while  in  some  instances, 
more  severe  effects  have  ensued.  Symptoms  very 
much  resembling  those  of  apoplexy  have  also  been 
produced  by  the  excessive  use  of  snuff.  A  cele- 
brated French  poet  died  in  fourteen  hours,  from 
swallowing  the  contents  of  his  snuff-box,  which 
had  been  mixed  with  his  wine,  as  a  joke.  Snuff 
or  tobacco  is  also  sometimes  used  for  drugging 
persons  with  a  view  to  nefarious  purposes,  as 
robbery  and  such  like. 

JVicodn,  the  alkaloid  of  tobacco,  is  as  deadly  a 
poison  as  prussic  acid.  It  is  an  acrid,  volatile, 
oily  liquid,  of  a  pale  amber  color.  In  1858  a 
chemist  of  rising  reputation  committed  suicide 
with  this  substance.  He  was  seen  by  one  of  the 
attendants  at  the  Museum  in  Jermyn  Street,  in  the 
act  of  falling  forwards  out  of  a  water-closet  in 
which  he  had  concealed  himself.  The  attendant 
raised  him  up,  and  with  the  aid  of  another  man 
endeavored  to  carry  him  to  a  table,  but  he  heaved 
a  deep  sigh  and  died  in  their  arms.  The  appear- 
auce^:   afterwards  found  were  great  congestion  of 


132  NEUROTIC    POISOXS. 

the  membranes  of  the  brain  and  a  dark  fluid  state 
of  the  blood. 

The  only  other  case  of  importance  on  record 
•was  the  occasion  of  the  cause  celebre  Bocarme. 
This  man,  a  Belgian  count,  studied  chemistrj^, 
apparently,  with  a  view  to  the  preparation  of  this 
substance,  made  it  in  quantity,  and  with  the  help 
of  his  wife  poisoned  her  brother.  The  count  was 
condemned  and  executed.  M.  Stas  was  engaged 
to  search  for  the  poison,  and  thus  was  introduced 
his  process,  so  often  referred  to. 

CosiVM  [Coniuin  maculatiim,  Common  or  Spotted 
Hemlock). — This  indigenous  plant,  which  grows 
abundantly  in  hedges  and  wild  places,  belongs  to 
the  order  Umbelliferje.  The  following  common 
umbelliferous  plants  are  likewise  poisonous:  viz., 
the  Cicuta  virosa  or  water-hemlock,  the  roots  of 
which  have  been  eaten  in  mistake  for  parsnips  ; 
the  (Eiiafithe  crocata,  or  the  water-dropwort,  one 
of  the  most  virulent  of  English  vegetables  ;  the 
^Et/iusa  ctinapium,  or  fool's  parsley,  sometimes 
gathered  in  mistake  for  jjarsley  ;  and  the  Phellan- 
driuiii  aquadcum,  or  fine-leaved  water-hemlock, 
popularly  known  as  water-parsnip.  They  have 
all  given  rise  to  accidents. 

The  seeds,  leaves,  and  root  of  the  Conium  macid- 
atum  are  all  poisonous.  The  effects  ai-e  rather 
variable,  sometimes  consisting  chie^y  of  delirium, 
stupor,  coma,  and  convulsions  ;  on  other  occasions, 
the  action,  being  chiefly  exerted  on  the  spinal  cord, 
gives  rise  to  gradually  extending  ])aralysis,  the 
lower  limbs  being  first  affected,  afterwards  the 
arms  and  chest,  thus  producing  death  by  apnoea 
from  paralysis  of  the  muscles  of  respiration. 
Probably,  however,  could  artificial  respiration  be 
kept  up,  the  heart  would  continue  to  beat  much 
longer. 


LOBELIA    INFLATA,    COLCIIICUM.  133 

The  alkaloid  of  hemlock  is  a  pale  3'ellow,  volatile, 
acrid  oily-looking  liquid,  known  as  conia^  conein  or 
co)ucina.  It  is  a  potent  poison,  occasioning  general 
paralysis  "witliout  loss  of  sensibility.  This  alkaloid, 
which  is  found  in  all  parts  of  the  plant,  may  be 
readily  recognized  by  rubbing  with  caustic  potass. 
This  sets  free  the  alkaloid  from  its  combination, 
and  being  readily  volatile  its  mouse-like  odor 
becomes  at  once  apparent.  Chemically  it  is  allied 
to  ammonia,  and  gives  many  of  the  reactions  of 
that  substance. 

In  many  respects  curare  (referred  to  under  Xiix 
vomica)  acts  similarly  to  conia. 

Lobelia  Ixflata  [Indian  Tobacco). — This  plant 
is  a  native  of  North  America;  and  its  powdered 
leaves  and  seeds  have  been  much  used  as  a  remedy 
for  asthma.  In  one  instance,  in  which  a  quack 
prescribed  a  drachm  of  the  leaves,  pain,  vomiting, 
unconsciousness,  feebleness  of  pulse,  and  contrac- 
tion of  the  pupils  surpervened,  and  death  occurred 
in  thirty-six  hours.  Ignorant  impostors,  calling 
themselvers  -'medical  botanists"' (more  appropri- 
ately known  as  "  Coffinites").  have  poisoned  several 
simple  individuals,  both  in  England  and  America, 
by  physicing  them  with  this  mischievous  and 
powerful  drug. 

CoLCHicuM  [Colchicum  aiitumnale,  Jleadojc  Saf- 
fron).— This  plant  grows  in  most  damp  meadows. 
Its  noxious  properties  are  due  to  the  active  prin- 
ciple Colchicia,  which  in  its  effects  is  allied  to  that 
contained  in  Avhite  hellebore,  Veratria.  In  two 
instances  less  than  half  a  grain  of  colchicia  proved 
fatal  to  adults. 

White  Hellebore  (  Veratum  album)  is  a  poisonous 
plant  which,  when  taken  internally,  has  caused 
violent  sickness,  purging,  dilatation  of  the  pupils, 
great    prostration,    and    lowering    of    the    heart's 


134  NEUROTIC    POISONS. 

action,  cold  sweats,  convulsions,  and  death.  At  the 
same  time  it  is  powerful  in  relieving  pain.  Its 
properties  are  due  to  reratria,  an  alkaloid,  which 
may  also  be  prepared  from  the  seeds  of  the  Asa- 
gnea  officinalis,  or  Cevadilla  seeds,  and  from  Vera- 
trum  viride. 

Gentle  emetics,  purgatives,  and  stimulants  are 
the  means  employed  to  prevent  death  in  poisoning 
by  any  of  these  vegetable  substances.  They  all 
produce  extreme  depression,  hence  stimulants 
must  be  freelv  used. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 
ASPHYXIANTS. 

NOXIOrS    GASES,    PRODUCING    NEUROTIC    SYMPTOMS. 

The  most  important  of  these  asphyxiant  noxious 
gases  are  carbonic  oxide,  carbonic  acid,  sulphur- 
etted hydrogen,  and  carburetted  hydrogen. 

Carbonic  Oxide  is  a  much  more  dangerous 
poison  than  is  carbonic  acid,  but  poisoning  with 
it  in  a  pure  state  is  rare.  It  constitutes  an  ingre- 
dient in  most  vapors  produced  by  l)urning  coke 
or  carbon,  especially  if  the  combustion  is  imper- 
fect. It  forms  with  the  coloring  matter  of  the 
blood  a  remarkably  stable  compound  of  a  light 
red  color;  in  point  of  fact  it  is  the  impossibility 
of  exchanging  carbonic  acid  for  oxygen  in  the 
lungs  which  causes  death.  After  death  the  blood 
is  bright  red  iu  hue. 

Carbonic  Acid  Gas. — This  heavy  inodorous  gas 
is  the  cause  of  numerous  accidents,  owing  to  the 


NOXIOUS   GASES.  135 

variety  of  sources  from  which  it  is  produced.  It 
is  formed  from  burniug  fuel,  from  the  calcination 
of  limestone  or  chalk,  and  it  is  a  product  of  re- 
spiration. It  is  dittused  through  wells,  coal-mines, 
and  caverns.  During  fermentation  it  is  largely 
given  off,  and  accumulates  in  beer  vats.  The 
vapor  of  charcoal  partly  owes  its  poisonous  pro- 
perties to  carbonic  acid  gas,  as  does  that  arising 
from  lime  and  brick-kilns. 

In  this  country  suicides  rarely  resort  to  cai'bonic 
acid  gas  to  accomplish  their  ends  ;  in  France  they 
very  frequently  do  so. 

Symptoms. — In  its  pure  state  this  gas  causes 
death  by  asphyxia,  the  glottis  becoming  spasmodi- 
cally closed  the  moment  the  vapor  comes  in  con- 
tact with  it.  When  sufficiently  diluted  to  be  in- 
spired it  acts  by  absorption,  giving  rise  to  giddi- 
ness, headache,  vomiting,  a  tendency  to  sleep,' and 
loss  of  muscular  power.  The  heat  of  the  body 
continues,  and  the  limbs  are  usually  flexible. 
The  countenance  gets  livid,  the  respiration  be- 
comes hurried  and  stertorous,  and  complete  insen- 
sibility ensues  ;  while  the  heart's  action,  which 
was  at  first  rapid,  soon  ceases. 

Fost-mortem  Appearances. — The  body  is  generally 
swollen  and  livid,  especially  about  the  face.  The 
countenance  is  not  always  bloated,  sometimes 
being  calm  and  pale.  The  limbs  are  often  rigid, 
the  skin  is  marked  with  livid  patches,  and  the 
abdomen  is  distended  with  gas.  The  right  cavities 
of  the  heart,  the  lungs,  and  large  veins,  are  found 
gorged  with  venous  blood  ;  while  the  brain  and 
its  membranes  are  usually  very  vascular,  and  occa- 
sionally there  is  serious  effusion. 

Treatment. — Prompt  removal  to  the  ])ure  air, 
cold  affusion,  and  stimulating  applications  to  the 
chest  and  extremities,  are  the  best  means  for  re- 
suscitation.    If  the  countenauce  is  bloated,  vene- 


136  NEUROTIC    POISONS. 

'Section  may  be  performed.  Artificial  respiration, 
galvanism,  and  the  inhalation  of  oxygen  gas,  have 
been  found  useful. 

Sulphuretted  Hydrogex. — This  gas  is  a  very 
active  poison,  but  from  its  offensive  odor  (resem- 
bling that  of  rotten  eggs)  it  is  not  so  liable  to  be 
accidentally  inhaled  as  is  carbonic  acid.  It  is 
usually  met  with  combined  with  other  gases,  re- 
sulting from  the  putrefaction  of  animal  matter. 
When  breathed  in  a  diluted  state,  it  speedily  pro- 
duces insensibility  and  death.  Workmen  long 
engaged  in  drains  and  sewers,  or  in  any  atmo- 
sphere contamiuated  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen 
gas.  suffer  from  giddiness,  nausea,  and  weakness  ; 
these  symptoms  ending  at  length  in  a  kind  of  fever, 
which  is  often  fatal. 

In  acute  cases  there  will  be  little  hope  of  re- 
covery, unless  the  individual  can  be  quickly 
removed  into  the  open  air,  and  stimulants,  &c., 
applied.  Chlorine  gas,  well  diluted  with  common 
air,  might  be  employed,  as  it  breaks  up  the  gas. 

Carburetted  IIvdrogex  [Coal  Gas). — The 
symi)toms  produced  by  this  gas,  when  mixed  with 
air  and  inhaled,  are  those  of  asphyxia.  If  the 
person  breathing  it  should  be  roused  before  a  fatal 
quantity  has  been  inhaled,  the  chief  effects  may 
be  intense  headache,  labored  and  oppressed  respi- 
ration, quickened  action  of  the  heart,  sickness,  and 
great  loss  of  power. 

In  1841  a  family  in  Strasburg  Avere  poisoned  by 
being  in  an  atmosphere  contaminated  with  coal 
gas.  for  forty  hours.  Of  the  six  members,  four 
Avere  found  dead,  while  the  father  died  in  twenty- 
four  hours  ;  but  the  mother  recovered.  The  gas 
escaped  from  a  pipe  which  passed  under  the  cellar 
of  the  house  where  this  family  resided:  so  that  it 
probably  poisoned  the  air  gradually,  and  gave  rise 
to  no  suffering  to  warn  the  unfortunates. 


ABORTIVES.  137 

CHAPTER  XXX. 
ABORTIVES. 

SUBSTANCES    PRODUCING    ABORTION. 

This  group,  though  far  from  a  natural  one,  is 
nevertheless  convenient.  It  comprehends  a  great 
variety  of  substances,  first  among  which  comes. 

Ergot  of  Rye  [Spurred  Rye^  Secale  cornatum). — 
The  grain  of  wheat,  barley,  oats,  and  rye  is  apt  to 
be  attacked  by  a  parasitic  fungus  which  imparts 
to  it  specific  properties.  This  substance  has  the 
power  of  inducing  contraction  of  unstriped  mus- 
cular fibre,  especially  in  the  smaller  arteries  and 
uterus.  Ergotised  grain,  in  full  doses,  gives  rise 
to  lassitude,  headache,  nausea,  and  diarrha^a. 
From  small  quantities,  frequently  repeated,  gan- 
grene of  the  extremities  has  resulted.  The  pecu- 
liar influence  of  ergot  on  the  muscular  coat  of  the 
uterus  renders  this  agent  a  valuable  medicine 
when  we  wish  to  induce  powerful  contractions, 
but  in  the  hands  of  the  ill-intentioned  it  is  fre- 
quently used  to  procure  abortion  ;  but  its  action 
in  this  way  is  far  from  certain,  and  at  all  times 
dangerous. 

Savin  and  its  oil  are  irritant  poisons,  only  indi- 
rectly affecting  the  uterus  ;  nevertheless,  they  not 
unfrequently  are  used  to  induce  miscarriage. 

Oil  of  Tansy  has  also  been  em])Ioyed  in  America 
as  an  abortive  agent,  and  in  three  instances,  at 
least,  has  caused  death. 

i:\iQ  Yew  [Taxus  baccafa),  which  has  acquired 
in  certain  districts  a  reputation  as  an  abortive, 
acts  as  do  some  others,  by  producing  irritation  of 
the    bowels,    and    so    communicating    a    kind    of 


138  NEUROTIC    POISONS. 

Stimulus  to  the  uterus.  The  leaves  and  berries  of 
the  yew  have  both  proved  fatal,  commonly  with 
irritant  symptoms  ;  but  those  of  coma  have  also 
been  observed. 

In  America  extract  of  Cotton-wood  has  a  repu- 
tation as  an  abortive. 


APPENDIX. 


I.  Bites  of  Venomous  Reptiles. — The  poisonous 
reptiles  provided  with  fangs  are  the  Ophidia,  or 
Serpents. 

Accidents  from  serpents'  bites  rarely,  of  course, 
happen  in  this  country,  but  are  of  frequent  occur- 
rence in  India,  Anstralia,  and  America. 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th  October,  1852,  one 
of  the  keepers  at  the  Zoological  Gardens  in  the 
Regent's  Park,  was  wounded  by  a  cobra,  which 
he  had  removed  from  its  cage  and  was  playing 
with.  For  twenty  minutes  after  the  animal  bit 
him  at  the  root  of  the  nose  no  peculiar  symptoms 
were  manifested,  and  the  part  was  merely  bathed 
with  water.  Forty  minutes  afterwards  the  man 
was  admitted  into  University  College  Hospital,  his 
face  then  being  livid,  respiration  impeded,  and 
the  power  of  locomotion  imperfect.  He  pointed 
to  his  throat  as  the  seat  of  pain,  but  could  not 
speak,  and  was  unable  to  swallow.  Artificial  re- 
spiration was  employed  for  fifty  minutes,  and  sub- 
sequently galvanism  ;  but  stupor  rapidly  succeeded 
to  faintness,  and  the  patient  died  comatose  fifty- 
five  minutes  after  admission.  The  chief  appear- 
ances found  on  dissection  were  an  unnatural 
fluidity  and  blackness  of  the  blood,  with  great 
congestion  of  the  lungs  and  spleen. 

The  only  poisonous  reptile  indigenous  to  this 
country  is  the  common  viper  or  adder.  It  is  found 
on  the  heaths  and  in  the  dry  woods  of  all  parts  of 
England,  Scotland,  and  Wales,  and  is  much  feared 


140  APPENDIX. 

on  account  of  its  venom.  Very  fenv  cases  are 
known  in  which  the  bite  of  this  animal  has  proved 
fatal.  In  May.  18(32.  a  little  boy.  at  Burgess  Hill, 
near  Brighton,  clambered  up  a  bank,  to  examine  a 
bird's  nest.  Groping  with  his  hand  among  the 
moss,  he  felt,  as  he  thought,  a  sharp  prick  from  a 
thorn.  It  turned  out  to  be  a  bite  from  an  adder. 
As  the  real  cause  of  the  wound  was  not  suspected, 
the  swelling  of  the  hand  and  arm  was  not  pro- 
perly attended  to  until  too  late,  and  the  poor  child 
died  on  the  second  day. 

The  poison  ajiparatus  of  the  viper  consists  of  a 
gland  placed  by  the  side  of  the  head,  a  duct,  and 
a  fang  or  pointed  curved  tooth,  moulded  in  the 
form  of  a  tube  on  either  side.  On  being  bitten, 
the  person  has  pain  in  the  wounded  part,  which 
quickly  becomes  severe  and  extends  up  the  adjoin- 
ing tissues.  The  limb  swells  greatly,  becomes  red 
and  livid;  while  faintness  soon  sets  in,  and  the 
pulse  get.^  rapid  and  small.  Bilious  vomitings, 
dyspna'a.  profuse  cold  sweats,  jaundice,  delirium, 
and  convulsions,  have  also  been  noticed.  In  a  few 
days  the  symptoms  usually  amend  ;  but  in  weak 
sickly  individuals  gangrene  of  the  limb  may  fol- 
low, or  death  may  occur  in  the  course  of  two  or 
three  days. 

The  treatment  of  the  bites  of  venomous  reptiles 
must  be  local  and  constitutional.  Immediately 
the  wound  is  inflicted  it  should  be  sucked  freely 
and  perseveriugly.  If  the  patient  is  too  faint  to  do 
this  for  himself,  a  bystander  may  fearlessly  help 
him;  for.it  is  well  known  that  these  poisons  may 
be  smeared  upon  the  lips  and  tongue,  or  even  swal- 
lowed, with  impunity.  At  the  same  time  a  liga- 
ture is  to  be  placed  around  the  limb,  above  the 
wound  ;  or  if  this  be  impossible,  from  its  situation, 
the  textures  around  are  to  be  compressed.     Then, 


APPENDIX.  141 

the  bitten  part  may  he  excised  j  or  it  may  he  de- 
stroyed by  the  actual  cautery,  nitric  acid,  the 
strong  liquor  ammonia?,  or  nitrate  of  silver. 

Professor  Halford,  of  the  University  of  Mel- 
bourne, in  a  paper  published  at  the  commencement 
of  1869,  recommended  the  injection  of  liquor  am- 
monia? into  the  veins  for  snake  bite.  Of  twenty 
cases  of  snake  bite  since  treated  in  this  manner,  by 
different  practitioners,  recovery  occurred  in  seven- 
teen. The  snakes  were  all  venomous,  and  included 
the  tiger  snake,  the  brown  and  black  snake  of 
Australia,  Sec.  These,  according  to  Professor  Hal- 
ford,  are  as  deadly  as  the  cobra  and  rattlesnakes 
of  India.  The  plan  of  proceeding  is  to  expose  the 
vein,  and  then  to  pierce  its  coats  with  the  sharp 
point  of  a  hypodermic  syringe  containing  the 
officinal  liquor  ammonia — sp.  grav.  0-959.  At 
least  thirty  minims  are  to  be  employed;  the  dose 
being  repeated  as  the  power  of  the  preceding  in- 
jection is  expended.  Professor  Halford  formerly 
thought  that  in  consequence  of  the  entrance  of  the 
snake  poison  into  the  blood  a  rapid  growth  of  new 
cells  occurred,  which  took  up  and  exhausted  the 
fibrin  and  oxygen  of  the  blood,  and  rendered  them 
incapable  of  ministering  to  the  wants  of  the  sys- 
tem. He  now  thinks  that  the  new  corpuscles  are 
only  the  white  corpuscles  of  the  blood  altered  and 
enlarged,  the  change  in  them  being  caused  by  an 
alteration  in  the  liquor  sanguinis;  this  alteration 
being,  in  fact,  a  disappearance  of  the  fibrin  under 
the  action  of  the  poison.  The  ammonia  is  believed 
to  counteract  this  power,  and  in  favor  of  thisvicAv 
many  Australian  physicians  have  spoken  strongly. 
Dr.  Fayrer,  however,  has  found  the  proceeding  a 
failure  in  India.  This  gentleman  is  of  opinion  that 
the  activity  of  the  poison  in  some  Indian  snakes  is 
10 


142  APPEXDIX. 

SO  great  that  it  is  impossible   to   counteract   it  hy 
any  method. 

The  constitutional  remedies  are  derived  chiefly 
from  the  class  of  diffusible  stimulants.  No  agent 
is  more  generally  recommended  than  ammonia  j 
and  therefore  the  officinal  compound  tincture  of 
ammonia  (formerly  known  as  eau  de  luce)  should 
be  given  in  half-drachm  doses,  well  diluted  ;  or  the 
aromatic  spirits  of  ammonia  may  be  administered 
in  the  proportion  of  two  drachms  to  an  ounce  and 
a  half  of  water.  Supposing  that  no  ammonia  is  at 
hand,  brandy  will  prove  an  excellent  substitute. 
Transfusion  of  blood  has  been  likewise  recom- 
mended; but  I  do  not  know  of  any  instance  in 
which  it  has  been  resorted  to. 

II.  Bites  of  Rabid  Animals. — As  the  subject  of 
Hydrophobia  is  fully  treated  of  in  Dr.  Tanner's 
work  on  '•  The  Practice  of  Medicine,'"  remarks  are 
here  confined  to  the  treatment  to  be  adopted  di- 
rectly a  person  is  bitten  by  a  rabid  animal.  This 
is  briefly  us  follows  : — The  tissues  round  the  seat 
of  injury  are  to  be  compressed  by  a  ligature  or 
otherwise,  to  prevent  absorption.  Then  the 
wounded  part  is  to  be  excised  as  soon  as  possible  ; 
taking  care  to  remove  every  portion  touched  by 
the  animals  teeth,  and  to  obtain  a  clean  raw  sur- 
face. The  wound  should  then  be  thoroughly 
washed  by  a  stream  of  water,  long  poured  over  it, 
and  lunar  caustic  afterwards  applied.  Mr.  Youatt 
prefers  the  nitrate  of  silver,  freely  used,  to  every 
other  caustic  ;  and  he  also  recommends  that  after 
its  application  the  wound  should  be  quickly  healed, 
though  many  authorities  advise  that  it  be  kept 
open  by  irritating  ointments.  As  these  operations 
are  very  painful,  there  is  no  objection  to  the  pa- 
tient being  placed  under  the  influence  of  chloro- 
form. He  should  afterwards  be  assured  that  everv- 


APPENDIX.  143 

thing  has  been  done  to  prevent  any  subsequent 
mischief;  and  to  give  him  greater  confidence  and 
to  banish  all  fear  from  his  mind,  it  may  be  as  well 
to  administer  ammonia  and  bark  for  some  days 
after  the  accident. 

III.  Stings  OF  Bees,  etc. — The  poison  apparatus 
of  the  common  bee  consists  of  glands,  and  a  sting 
placed  at  the  extremity  of  the  body.  The  effect  of 
the  bite  is  usually  slight,  and  the  pain  quickly 
passes  off.  In  some  few  instances,  however,  there 
have  resulted  swelling  and  erysipelas,  or  suppura- 
tion and  gangrene,  or  even  death. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1819,  John  Trevalli,  of 
Pennsylvania,  was  stung  by  a  bee  in  the  middle 
finger  of  his  right  hand.  He  immediately  became 
faint  and  insensible  to  surrounding  objects;  his 
complexion  was  livid,  his  breathing  slow,  and  the 
perspiration  saturated  his  clothes.  At  the  end  of 
an  hour  and  a  half  he  was  bled,  and  recovered.  On 
the  21st  July,  1820,  he  was  stung  in  the  temple  by 
a  humble  bee.  His  wife  was  present  and  gave  him 
some  water,  but  in  ten  minutes  he  was  dead. — 
(American  Journal  of  Medical  Sciences,  Vol.  19,  p. 
265.  Philadelphia,  1836.)  Two  other  rapidly  fatal 
causes  are  noticed  in  the  same  journal,  as  well  as 
two  examples  of  death  from  the  sting  of  a  wasp 
and  one  from  the  bite  of  a  spider. 

Mr.  C.  Hanbury  has  recorded  a  case  of  death 
from  the  sting  of  a  bee  [Medical  Times  and  Gazette, 
p.  232.  10th  March,  1860);  and  has  also  given 
short  abstracts  of  several  examples  collected  by 
Dr.  Crisp,  where  severe  symptoms  have  resulted 
from  the  same  injury.  Sir  Benjamin  Brodie  [Lec- 
tures on  Pathology  and  Surgery,  p.  286.  London, 
1846)  says  he  has  seen  a  case  in  which  sloughing 
of  the  cellular  tissue  followed  from   a  leech   bite, 


144  APPENDIX. 

and  another  in  which  simih\r  mischief  followed 
the  sting  of  a  bee.     Both  the  patients  died. 

And  again,  in  a  communication  from  Montbard 
{La  Patrie,  19th  September,  1858)  it  is  stated  that 
a  youth  sixteen  years  of  age  was  drinking  from  a 
bottle,  when  a  wasp,  which  he  had  not  seen,  got 
into  his  throat  and  wounded  him.  He  died  suffo- 
cated by  the  swelling,  before  any  assistance  could 
be  procured. 

According  to  Messrs.  Kirby  and  Spence  [Intro- 
duction to  Entomology,  Seventh  Edition,  p.  76, 
London,  185G).  serious  effects  are  sometimes  pro- 
duced on  peculiar  constitutions  by  eating  freely  of 
honey  or  from  partaking  of  mead — a  drink  made 
by  fermenting  honey  and  water.  These  authors 
state  that  they  knew  a  lady  upon  Avhom  such 
things  acted  like  poison,  and  they  had  heard  of 
instances  in  which  death  was  the  consequence. 
Sometimes,  when  the  bees  have  extracted  their 
sweets  from  poisonous  plants,  these  injurious  re- 
sults have  not  been  confined  to  individuals  of  a 
particular  habit.  Thus,  according  to  Dr.  Barton 
{American  Philosophical  Transactions,  vol.  5),  there 
were  numerous  deaths  in  the  autumn  and  winter 
of  17U0  from  eating  honey  collected  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Philadelphia,  which,  on  inquiry,  was 
found  to  be  due  to  this  substance  having  been  ex- 
tracted from  the  beautiful  but  poisonous  flowers 
of  the  Kalmia  latifolia. 


APPENDIX.  145 

The  following  Table  from  Dr.  Garrod's  "  Materia 
Medica  "  shows  the  proportions  in  which  some  of 
the  more  important  drugs  of  the  "  Pharmacopoeia" 
are  contained  in  the  Officinal  Preparations. 

ANTIMONY. 

(Tartar  Emetic.) 

^  gr.  of  tartarated  antimony  is   contained  in   1  fl. 

drm.  of  vinum  antimoniale. 
1  gr.  of  tartarated  antimony  is  contained  in  5  gr. 

of  unguentum  antimonii  tartarati. 

(Oxide  of  Antimony.) 

1  gr.  of  oxide  of  antimony  is  contained  in  3  gr.  of 
pulvis  antimonialis. 

ARSENIC. 

(Arsenious  Acid,  White  Arsenic.) 

Jj  gr.  of  arsenious  acid  is  contained  in  5  min.  of 

liquor  arsenicalis. 
-ij  gr.  of  arsenious  acid  is  contained  in  5  min.  of 

liquor  arsenici  hydrochloricus. 

(Arseniate  of  Soda.) 

25-  gr.  of  arseniate  of  soda  (dried)  is  contained  in 
5  min.  of  liquor  sodte  arseniatis. 

MERCURY. 

(Metallic.) 

1  gr.  of  mercury  is  contained  in  3  gr.  of  hydrargy- 
rum cum  creta. 


146  APPENDIX. 

1   gr.  of  mercury  is  contained  in  3  gr.  of  pilula 

hydrargyri. 
1  gr.  of  mercury  is   contained  in  2  gr.  of  unguen- 

tum  hvdraruvri. 


(Hydr.vrgyui  Perchloridum.) 

Jj  gr.  of  perchloride  of  mercury  is  contained  in  1 
fl.  drm.  of  liquor  hydrargyri  perchloridi. 

(Hydrargyri  Si-rchloridum.  or  Calomel.) 

1  gr.  of  subchloride  of  mercury  (calomel)  is  con- 
tained in  5  gr.  of  pilula  hydrargyri  subchloridi 
composita. 

1  gr.  of  subchloride  of  mercury  (Calomel)  is  con- 
tained in  about  Gh  gr.  of  unguentum  hydrar- 
gyri subchloridi. 

ACONITE. 

1  gr.  of  dried  aconite  root  is  contained  in  about  9 
min.  of  tinctura  aconiti. 


ACONITIA. 

8  gr.  of  aconitia  are  contained  in  one  oz.  of  un- 
guentum acouitiii?. 

ATROPTA. 

1  gr.  of  atropia  is  contained  in  2  fl.  drm.  of  liquor 
atropiji?. 

1  gr.  of  sulphate  of  atropia  in  2  fl.  drm.  of  liquor 
atropine  sulphatis. 

8  gr.  of  atropia  are  contained  in  1  oz.  of  unguen- 
tum atropia'. 


APPENDIX.  147 

BELLADONNA. 

1  gr.  of  dried  belladonna  is  contained  in  about  22 

min.  of  tinctura  belladonna?. 
Each  fluid  part  of  linimeutum  belladonae  contains 

the  active  portion  of  a  solid  part  of  the  dried 

root. 

CANNIBIS  INDICA. 

1  gr.  of  alcholic  extract  of  Indian  hemp  is  con- 
tained in  about  22  min.  of  tinctura  cannabis 
Indicae. 

CANTHARIDES. 

1  gr.  of  cantharides  is  contained  in  about  88  min. 
of  tinctura  cantharidis. 

COLCHICUM. 

1  gr.  of  died   corm  of  colchicum    is   contained  in 

about  5^  min.  of  vinum  colchici. 
1   gr.  of  colchicum  seeds  is  contained  in  about  9 

min.  of  tinctura  colchici. 

DIGITALIS. 

1  gr.  of  dried  leaves  of  digitalis  is  contained  in 
about  9  min.  of  tinctura  digitalis. 

HEMLOCK. 

1  gr.  of  hemlock  fruit  is  contained  in  about  9  min. 
of  tinctura  conii. 


IPECACUANHA, 

1  gr.  of  ipecacuanha  root  is  contained  in  about  22 
min.  of  vinum  ipecacuanhae. 


148  APPENDIX, 

1  gr.  ipecacuanha  root  is  contained  in  twelve 
morphia  and  ipecacuanha  lozenges. 

1  gr.  of  ipecacuanha  root  is  contained  in  4  ipe- 
cacuanha lozenges. 

NUX  VOMICA. 

1  gr.  of  nux  vomica  seed  is  contained  in  about  11 
min.  of  tinctura  nucis  vomicae. 

(Strychnia.) 

1  gr.  of  strychnia  is  contained  in  2  fl.  drm.  of 
liquor  strychnia-. 

OPIUM. 

(Acetate  of  Morphia.) 

\  gr.  of  acetate  of  morphia  is  contained  in  30 
min.  of  liquor  morphiae  acetatis. 

(Hydrochlorate  of  Morphia.) 

\  gr.  of  hydrochlorate  of  morphia  is  contained  in 

30  min.  of  liquor  morphia?  hydrochloratis. 
\  gr.  of  hydrochlorate  of  morphia  is  contained  in 

nine  morphia  lozenges. 
\  gr.  of  hydrochlorate  of  morphia  is  contained  in 

nine  morphia  and  ipecacuanha  lozenges. 
^  grain  of  hydrochlorate  of  morphia  is  contained  in 

each  morphia  suppository. 

(Opium  dried  sufficiently  to  be  powdered.) 

1  gr.  of  opium  is  contained  in  14^  rain,  of  tinctura 

opii. 
1  gr.  of  opium  is  contained   in   IA\  min.  of  vinum 

opii. 


APPEXDTX,  149 

1  gr.  of  opium  is  contained  in  J  fl.  oz.  of  tinctura 

oamphora*  composita. 
1  gr.  of  opium  is  contained  in  OG  min.  of  tinctura 

opii  ammoniata. 
1  gr.  of  opium  is  contained   in   1  fl.  oz.  of  enema 

opii. 
1    gr.    of   o})ium   is   contained   in   5   gr.   of  pilula 

saponis  composita. 
1    gr.   of  opium   is   contained  in   8  gr.   of  pilula 

plumbi  cum  opio. 
1    gr.   of  opium   is   contained   in   10  gr.   of  pulvis 

ipecacuanliie  compositus. 
1  gr.  of  opium  is  contained  in  "JO  gr.  of  pulvis  kino 

compositus. 
1    gr.    of  oi)ium   is   contained  in  40   gr.   of  pulvis 

creta^  aro  maticus  cum  opio. 
1  gr.  of  opium  is  contained  in  10  gr.  of  pulvis  opii 

compositus. 
1    gr.    of  opium   is   contained   in   about  13 J  gr.  of 

unguentum  gaila  cum  opio. 
1  gr.  of  opium  is  contained  in  teii  opium  lozenges. 
1    gr.   of  opium  equals  about  5^  gr.   of  extractum 

opii. 
1  gr.  of  extract  of  opium  is  contained  in  22  min.  of 

extractum  opii  liquidum. 


INDEX 


Absorptiox  of  poisons,  IG 
Acetate  of  lead,  86 

morphia,  97 
Acetic  acid,  47 
Acid  of  sugar,  43 
Acids,  mineral,  35 

vegetable,  43 
Aconite,  122 
Aconitia,  122 
Action  of  poisons,  16 
Adder,  the  common,  139 
^Ethusa  cynapium,  132 
Agaricus  campestris.  111 
esculentus,  111 
Alcohol,  108 

Alkalies,  poisoning  bj'  the,  52 
Almonds,  bitter,  124 
Aloes,  57 

Amanita,  muscaria.  111 
Ammonia,  48 

Ammonio-chloride     of     mer- 
cury, 85 
Amylene,  107 
Ana?sthetics,  102 
Aniline,  109 
Animal  irritants,  58 
Antidotes,  26 

Antimonial  compounds,  78 
Aqua  fortis,  38 
regia,  40 
reginie,  40 
Argol,  53 
Arrow-poison,  116 
Arseniate  of  potash,  67 

soda,  67 
Arsenic,  66 
Arsenic  eating,  67 
Arsenious  acid,  G9 
Arsenite  of  copper,  67 


Arsenite  of  potash,  67 
Arum  maculatum,  57 
Asagrjea  officinalis,  134 
Asp,  bite  of  the,  140 
Atropa  belladonna,  113 
Atropia,  113 

Bacon,  rancid,  58 
Baryta  and  its  salts,  53 
Bees,  stings  of,  143 
Belladonna,  113 
Bichloride  of  mercury,  81 
Bichromate  of  potash,  56 
Binoxalate  of  potash,  43 
Bismuth,  56 

Bisulphide  of  arsenic,  67 
Bisulphuret  of  mercury,  85 
Bitartrate  of  potash,  53 
Bites  of  rabid  animals,  142 

venomous  reptiles,  139 
Bitter  almonds,  124 
Bitter-sweet,  115 
Black  hellebore,  92 
Blistering  flies,  92 
Blue  vitrol,  90 
Brick-kilns,  vapor  from,  135 
Brucia,  117 
Bryony,  57 

Burnett's  solution.  55 
Butter  of  antimony,  80 

Calomel,  85 
Camphor,  110 
Cantharides,  92 
Carbonate  of  baryta,  54 

lead,  87 

potash,  48 

soda,  48 
Carbonic  acid  gas,  134 


152 


Carburetted  hydrogen,  13G 

Castor  oil  seed's,  57 

Caustic  soda,  48 

Ceruse,  S7 

Cevadilla  seeds,  134 

Champignons,  111 

Charcoal  vapor,  13.T 

Cheese,  decayed,  ">S 

Chloride  of  antimony,  80 
arsenic,  77 
harium.  53 
mercury,  85 
zinc,  55 

Chlorides  of  tin,  56 

Chlorine,  59 

Chloroform,  102 

Chrome,  5(5 

Chronic  antimonial  poisoning, 
79 
arsenical  poisoning.  70 
copper  poisoning,  89 
lead  poiscming,  88 
mercurial    poisoning, 
82 

Cicuta  virosa,  132 

Cinnahar,  85 

Cliussification  of  poisons,  32 

Coal  gas,  130 

Cocculus  Indicus,  110 

Cockles,  58 

Colchicia,  i;i3 

Culchicum,  133 

Colic,  88 

Colocynth,  57 

Common  hemlock,  132 
salt.  13 

Confectionery,  poisonous.  G7 

Couia,  13;i 

Conium,  132 

Copper,  arsenite  of,  67 
salts  of,  89 

Copperas,  56 

Corrosive  sublimate,  81 

Crabs,  58 

Cream  of  tartar,  53 

Croton  oil  seeds,  57 

Curare,  116 

Cyanide  of  mercury,  85 

pot;u5sium,  124 


Cytisus  laburnum,  92 

Darnel  seeds,  110 
Deturia,  115 

Detura  stramonium,  115 
Deadly  nightshade,  113 
Definition  of  a  poison,  13 
Diagnosis  of  poisoning,  19 
Digitalin,  129 
Digitalis  purpurea,  129 
Duties  of  the   medical  practi- 
tioner, 19 

Eating  of  arsenic,  67 
opium,  96 
Effects  ol  poisons,  15 
Elaterium,  57 
Ilmetics,  25 
Ergot  of  rye.  137 
Essence  of  bitter  almonds,  124 

mirbane,  109 
Essential  salt  of  lemons,  43 
Ether,  106 
Eui)horbium,  57 

Fisli,  poisonous,  58 
Fool's  parsley,  132 
Foxglove,  129 
Fungi,  111 

Gamboge,  57 
Garden-nightshade,  115 
Gaseous  test  for  arsenic,  74. 
Gases,  irritant,  59 
Goulard's  extract,  87 
Green  vitrol,  56 

Hartshorn.  49 
Hellebore,  black,  92 
Hemlock,  132 

Hemlock,  water-dropwort,  132 
Henbane,  112 
Hierapicra,  51 
Hocussing,  115, 
Holloway's  mils,  57 
IlydrochlorOTe  of  morphia,  97 
Hydrochloric  acid.  39 
Hydrocyanic  acid,  123 
Hydrogen,  carburetted,  136 


INDEX. 


153 


Hydrogen,  sulphuretted,  136 
Hydrophobia,  142 
Hyoscyamiis  niger,  112 

Indian  tobacco,  133 
Indigo,  sulphate  of,  40 
Investigation  of  cases,  19 
Iodide  of  potassium,  63 
Iodine,  61 
lodisni,  62 
Iron,  sulphate  of,  56 
Irritant  gases,  59 

Ijoisons,  34 

Jalap,  57 

Ketchup,  111 

Laburnum,  92 

Laudanum,  95 

Laurel  water,  124 

Lead  and  its  preparations,  85 

palsy,  88 
Lemons,  essential  salt  of,  43 
Levant  nut,  110 
Lime,  53 
Liquid  mercury,  81 

tests  for  arsenic,  74 
Liquor  ammonia?,  48 

potassae,  48 
Lobelia  inflata,  133 
Local  action  of  poisons,  15 
Lolium  temulentum,  110 
Lunar  caustic,  56 

Magistery  of  bismuth,  56 
Marsh's  test  for  arsenic,  75 
Meadow  saffron,  133 
Meats,  poisonous,  58 
Meconic  acid,  101 
Medical  witness,  the  duty  of, 

19 
Modico-legal  reports,  21 
Menispermum  cocculus,  110 
Mercurial  paralysis,  83 
Mercury  and  its  compounds, 

81 
Mesereon,  57 
Metallic  antimony,  78 


Metallic  arsenic,  66 

lead,  85 
Metals,  compounds  of  the,  6G 
Mineral  acids,  36 
green,  67 
Mirbane,  essence  of,  109 
Mixed  acids,  41 
Monkshood,  122 
Morphia,  97 
Morrison's  pills,  57 
Muriatic  acid,  39 
Mushrooms,  111 
Mussels,  58 

Narcotic  poisons,  95 
Nicotiana  tabacum,  131 
Nicotina,  131 
Nightshade,  115 
Nitrate  of  bismuth,  56 

potash,  52 

silver,  56 
Nitrate  of  mercury,  85 
Nitre,  52 
Nitric  acid,  38 
Nitro-benzol,  109 
Nitro-muriatic  acid,  40 
Nitro-sulphuric  acid,  40 
Nitrous-oxide  gas,  107 
Nux-vomica,  117 

(Enanthe  crocata,  132 
(Esophagus,  stricture  of  the, 

41 
Oil  of  bitter  almonds,  124 

vitrol,  36 
Opium,  95 
Opium-eating,  96 
Orpiment,  67 
Oxalate  of  lime,  43 
Oxalic  acid,  43 
Oxalis  acetosella,  43 
Oxides  of  lead,  87 

Painter's  colic,  87 
Paralysis  from  lead,  86 

mercury,  83 
Pearlash,  48 

Phellaudrium  aquaticum,  132 
Phosphorus,  63 


154 


INDEX. 


Picrotoxiu,  110 

Poison,  definition  of  a,  13 

Poisoning,  diagnosis  of,  19 
treatment  of,  27 

Poison  of  vipers.  140 

Poisonous  confectionery,  67 
fungi,  111 

Poisons,  absorption  of,  14 
classification  of,  32 
mode  of  action  of,  14 
sympathetic  action  of, 
"17 

Potash,  48 

arsenite  of,  67 
bichromate  of,  56 
binoxalate  of,  43 
bitartrate  of,  53 
carbonate  of,  48 
nitrate  of,  52 
sulphate  of,  52 

Potassa  fusa,  48 

Potassio-tartrate  of  antimonj-, 
78 

Pota-ssium,  iodide  of,  63 

Prussic  acid,  123 

Ptyalism,  83 

Purple  foxglove,  129 

Rabid  animals,  bites  of,  142 
Realgar,  07 
Red  arsenic,  67 

oxide  of  mercury,  85 

precipitate,  85 

spirit  of  nitre,  38 
Reduction  test  for  arsenic,  73 
Reinsch's  test  for  arsenic,  70 
Remote  effects  of  poisons,  15 
Reptiles,  bites  of,  140 
Rhubarb,  43 

St.  Ignatius'  bean,  116 
Sal  de  duobus,  52 
Salivation,  83 
Sal  polychrest,  52 
Salprunelle,  52 
Salt  of  sorrel,  43 
Saltpetre.  52 
Salts  of  copper,  89 
Sausages,  58 


Savin,  137 
Scammony,  57 
Scheele"s  green,  67 

hydrocyanic  acid,  123 
Secale  cornutum,  137 
Serpents,  poisonous,  140 
Sesquicarbonate  of  ammonia, 

40 
Shell-fish,  58 
Silver,  nitrate  of,  56 
Smelling-salts,  49 
Soap-lees.  48 
Soda,  carbonate  of,  48 
Solan  ia,  115 
Solanum  dulcamara,  115 

nigrum,  115 
Soothing  svrups,  95 
Sorrel,  43  ' 

salt  of,  43 
Spanish  flies.  92 
Spirit  of  salt.  39 
Spiritous  liquors,  108 
Spotted  hemlock,  132 
Spurred  rye,  137 
Stings  of  bees,  143 
Stomach-pump,  24 
Stramonium,  115 
Strychnia,  117 
Subacetate  of  copper,  90 

lead,  87 
Subchloride  of  mercury,  85 
Sugar,  acid  of,  43 
of  lead,  80 
Sulphate  of  copper,  90 

indigo.  40 

iron,  50 

potash.  52 

zinc.  54 
Sulphides  of  arsenic.  67 
Sulphuretted  hydrogen,  136 
Sulphuric  acid.  36 
Sulphuric  ether,  100 
Sulphurous-acid  gas.  59 
Sympathetic  action  of  poisons, 

"17 
Symptoms  of  poisoning,  20 

Tartar  emetic.  78 
Tartaric  acid,  47 


INDEX, 


155 


Tartarized  antimony,  78 
Taxus  baccata,  137 
Tersulphide  of  arsenic,  67 
Thorn-apple,  115 
Ticunas,  116 
Tin,  56 

Toadstools,  111 
Tobacco,  131 
Treatment  of  poisoning,  24 

Vapor  of  ammonia,  49 
Vegetable  acids,  43 

irritants,  57 
Venomous  reptiles,  140 
Veratria,  133 
Verdigris,  90 
Vermilion,  85 
Viper,  the  common,  139 

Wasps,  stings  of,  143 
"VVater-hemlock,  132 


Water,  impregnated  with  lead, 

88 
Water-parsnip,  132 
White  arsenic,  69 

hellebore,  133 

lead.  87 

oxide  of  arsenic,  G9 

precipitate,  85 

vitriol.  54 
Wine  containing  lead,  88 
Wolfsbane,  122 
Wood  sorrel,  43 
Woody  nightshade,  115 
Woorara,  116 

Yellow  arsenic,  66 
Yew,  137 

Zinc,  chloride  of,  55 
sulphate  of,  54 


THE    END. 


Date  Due 


t**f 


CAT.    NO.    23    233 


PRINTED    IN     U.S. 


B  000  007  403  9 

Tanner,  Thomas  H 

Memoranda  on  poisons 


QV600 
Tl6Tm 
18T2 


QV600 
Tl67m 
1872 


anner,  Thomas  H 
Memoranda  on  poisons 


CALIFORNIA  COLLEGE  OF  MEDICINE  LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  IRVINE 

IRVINE,  CALIFORNIA  92664 


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